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fish feeding merit

2/11/2019

4 Comments

 
Gaining merit is a fundamental part Buddhism. As it relates to the Buddhist way of life it means: a beneficial and protective force which accumulates as a result of good deeds, acts, or thoughts.  You may notice I referred to the Buddhist "way of life" and not the Buddhist "religion".  That's because from my experiences the gaining of merit is a ritual practiced by Buddhists who may not spend an extensive amount of time practicing their religion but they would never neglect the responsibility of gaining merit. 

Merit is what sets you up for the next cycle of life.  It is, of course, the goal to come back in your cycle as a step ahead of where you are in this life. The key determiner of your next life is what you do in this one.  So, you can see why attempts to gain merit are popular!

'Merit Making' as its referred to can be accomplished in many ways. In general it has to do with good deeds or good thoughts. Donations to the temple and alms to the monks give merit, helping someone in need gives merit. Often, it can involve animals. Setting fish or birds free is a popular merit making practice.

Temples along a waterway often give the opportunity to feed the fish for merit. As you can imagine, this leads to prolific aquatic life in small ponds. 

This week we were at a temple in the Old Siam region of Thailand. After touring and admiring the amazing art work found in Buddhist temples we figured a little merit making couldn't hurt.

The temple is surrounded by a moat and accessed by a foot bridge. Makes for a lovely quaint setting.
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We bought a couple containers of fish food and with good intentions at heart headed to the water that surrounded the temple island.

While the water is muddy and murky it is quite calm. Until you add a few fish pellets! The still water surface erupted with a plethora of fish. Mainly catfish with their creepy whiskers! Hmm, wonder how many merit points are deducted when I think the animals are creepy?

Hopefully I fed enough fish to gain at least enough merit to offset my negative catfish-whisker-thoughts.
4 Comments

Birth Day Blessings

3/1/2016

9 Comments

 
Buddhist Wats (temples) dot the countryside all over Thailand. This temple has a beautiful sitting golden Buddha who looks out over the Gulf of Thailand.  The pictures below don't really show it, but you can see the glimmering gold of Buddha for quite a distance.
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I love how stunning a big Buddha is up close.
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Besides the picturesque location, this Budhha is special because there is the heart of Buddha here. (well, a replica of Buddha's heart)
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Buddhists are continually making offerings to the temples and Buddha in a pledge for merit which will help them in the next life cycle. The goal is to attain enough merit that in your next life you will be born into a better position. They also give offerings before praying to Buddha with a request. A prayer for good grades, a new baby, a new job or the winning lotto numbers are all accompanied by an offering to Buddha. Offerings are often monetary but they can also be gold leaf or lotus flowers or other symbols of respect and almost always lit incense.

I was introduced to the ceremony of prayer specific to Buddha's heart.  There is a line of boxes each designated to a day of the week.  You must put your money in the box for the day you were born on. Not your birthday but your Birth Day. The amount must be more than your current age. 
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Behind each donation box is a bowl of small clay Buddha images.
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You put your money in the box and take a small clay Buddha tablet.  
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I recently celebrated my 40th birthday. My friends and family will tell you I have a little (read 'large') complex about reaching this milestone. As I placed 45Baht (Thai currency) into the box I made a little joke about looking too young to put that much money into the box.  I was met with a stern look from the caretaker which definitely broke the language barrier to say 'blessing from Buddha are not a time for giggles'.

Returned appropriately solemn for the situation, I removed my shoes and knelt before Buddha's heart and said a short prayer.
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I put my small sandstone Buddha into the back of Buddha's heart to rest with all of the other prayers.
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I then returned to the front of the heart and knelt to repeat my prayer.
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From what I have read about Sidhhartha (the man who became Buddha) he was a gentle and forgiving man. A favourite quote from Buddha is "We are what we think. With our thoughts, we make our world." Considering my prayer was a sincere request for safety on the rest of our trip and for the health and safety of our family at home I trust that Buddha, if he was listening, would forgive my giggles and know my heart was in the right place.
9 Comments

a little merit never hurt

2/3/2014

11 Comments

 
95% of Thais are Buddhist.  Buddhism is more than a religion, it is a way of life.  And although many Thais don't follow every 'rule' they do have great respect for Buddhism, Buddha and Monks.  All parts of Thailand are scattered with Wats (temples), shrines and Budhhas big and small. Thais often pause several times a day to give respect to Buddha and offer up a small prayer. 

The Wats are supported by all.  This week when walking past a Wat we pass almost daily in Bangkok, there was a festive atmosphere.  A
new roof was going on one of the buildings.  The roof is made from terracotta tiles.  People were giving their support to the new roof by buying a tile (or several) and the tiles were being installed as they were purchased.

After purchasing a tile, you write your name on the back and send it up to the roof with a prayer.  In Buddhism gaining merit is how, in the next cycle of life, you come back in a better position.  Helping to maintain the Wats is one way of gaining merit.

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a woman writes on her purchased tile while a man says a prayer as his tile goes on the roof.


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rows of tiles waiting to be purchased


I'm not a practicing Buddhist but a little merit never hurt anyone. I purchased a tile and sent it up with a little prayer. 
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Peter writing on his tile


You send your tile to the roof in a basket on a rope pulley.  The basket is covered in tinsel, Thais love glitter and sparkle.
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me pulling the rope to send my tile to the roof in the basket


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the basket with my tile being accepted on the roof


The Thais always seem to love when a foreigner takes the time to be involved in their culture.  I always find a little respect for their culture and religion go a long way.  So although many people were sending up tiles, ours definitely got some extra recognition from the crowd. We both placed our hands in front of our faces in the traditional respectful 'wai' stance and sent up a prayer. (Mine was for a safe and enjoyable stay in Thailand.)
11 Comments

Home Sweet (2nd) Home

1/19/2012

20 Comments

 
Arriving in Bangkok feels a bit like coming home.  After the long flights and boring layovers, when I walk off the plane and the hot humid air hits me, I suddenly feel great!

I've been coming to SE Asia yearly for 12 years.  This is now the 7th trip that I will spend most of my time seeking out additions for the shelves of my little gift shop in Eastern Ontario. By my side is my husband (or I should say, I am by his side, since he has been coming to SE Asia every winter for 27years!) Can't wait to see what this year's adventure holds!

Our first meal is always at this tiny restaurant. I literally dream of the curry here when I'm at home!  This spot gives "hole in the wall" a good name.
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The two lovely sisters here cook up curries and other delicious Thai food from around 4am to 2pm daily.  The place is packed almost anytime you arrive. You get chicken curry & vegetables on rice for less than a $1 Canadian.  Amazing!
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One of the parts of Thai culture I find fascinating is that the Buddhist religion permeates into all aspects of their lives.  It's feels not so much like a religion (go to church on Sundays, try to be good...) more of a lifestyle.  Almost all businesses and homes have a shrine - here's the one at the restaurant, squeezed into a corner by the dish-pit, but still very dominant. You often see Thais making an offering to a shrine, or at least wai-ing (putting your palms together and bowing as a motion of respect).  Sometimes it gives you pause - the prostitute who stops when passing a temple to wai.  And then there's the taxi driver who while driving in the traditional reckless Asian city manor, takes both hands off the wheel to wai as we pass a temple. 
Oh, I LOVE being here!
20 Comments

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