Buddhist Monks in Thailand

Here in Thailand it’s a tradition for men to ordain as monks for 3 months before getting married, however some are busy with their careers and only ordain for a week or two.

Buddhist Culture

Most peoples round southeast Asia have a lot of respect for their parents and elderly which is something that is dying out in Western culture.

In addition, Thai people really respect Buddhist monks because they lead simple lives and practice the Buddha’s teachings. Another reason the monks are so revered is because their meditation practice can lead to enlightenment which is considered the highest achievement of all.

Karma

Buddhists believe in the concept of karma, which in short means that every good action will reap good fruit sometime in the future while every bad action will reap bad fruit.

So, one of the most beautiful things you can do in Buddhist culture is to sponsor a monk which means offering him a robe, alms bowl and other necessities – this is usually done by the parents. The good karma of such a sponsorship is believed to be immense.

Men become monks for various reasons, however only a minority of the monks in Thailand have a genuine interest in the Buddha’s teachings. Most of them ordain to honor their parents.

Buddhist Monasticism

The monks set out on alms round just after sunrise. This is not viewed as begging in Buddhist countries but rather as a opportunity for the community to offer food to the honorable monks.

Offering foods to the monks is believed to make for very good karma.

The monks generally chant Buddhist scriptures 3-4 times a day, spend time studying and meditating.

Life in a monastery is really monotonous with the same schedule and foods almost everyday. A few times a month they may chant at funerals and other religious ceremonies.

When I was a junior monk in Thailand, we swept leaves in the temple grounds every afternoon which is a meditation in itself. If you’re interested in meditation, monasteries offer plenty of inspiration and support.

All the best!

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Buddhist Holidays – A Complete Guide to Buddhist Monasteries and Meditation Centers in Thailand

Article by Pinky McBanon

With nearly 95% Buddhist population, Thailand is the perfect place to learn more about Buddhism and meditation. Though Buddhism can have different forms named as Theravada or Southern Buddhism, Mahayana or Northern Buddhism, Burma (Pagan) Buddhism or Ceylon (Lankavamsa) Buddhism, in Thailand the majority of the Buddhists accept the Theravada beliefs, which influenced Thai culture as early as in 3rd century. The westernized world gets astonished to see Thai people’s spiritual wellness being so closely attached to these beliefs and to them a visit to Thailand for Buddhist holidays becomes a way to learn more about Buddhism and meditation. In Thailand, you can never be too far from a Buddhist temple – there are many in number and though the basic architectural plan is almost same, some are more magnificent than others and deserve a mention here.

Any guide book on Thailand will be inundated with the details of the Buddhist temples and meditation centres. Apart from their location, their major attraction and how to reach them, these guide books tell you about the do’s and don’ts at a Buddhist temple and meditation centre. There are several guide books that are meant only for this purpose and it is not very difficult to find a book on Buddhist holidays – a complete guide to Buddhist monasteries and meditation centers in Thailand. You can pick one before arriving in Thailand and thus can have more time for research and think on your choice of Buddhist temples, or you can buy one from Thailand at modest prices. A Buddhist holidays guidebook comes very handy for those who want to immerse themselves in learning about Buddhism way of living.

Most of the Buddhist holidays books will be mentioning the names of the most famous and most visited Buddhist temples and the few names that dominate the list are Wat Phra Keo (The Emerald Buddha Temple), Erawan Temple, Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, Gold Phra Sri Ratana Chedi, Wat Phao temple, Mahathat Temple and Yai Chai Mongkon Temple etc. Though most of the temples have golden Buddha statues and stupas, the Wat Phra Keo temple has Buddha statue engraved from a single emerald stone that mesmerizes the visitor. Wat Phao temple is unique in having the face of reclining Buddha. You can have a meditation session in the temples or can go for the meditation schools (Vipassana centres) to learn to meditate.

About the Author

Ms. Pinky is a mom of 3 school children. She is a Systems Engineer, a Technology Researcher and an Independent Medical Billing and Coding Consultant. She and her family is well-traveled all over the world! Her blogs and websites focuses on stay-at-home moms, dads and students who wants to work at home, build homebased business https://secrets2meditation.com/goto/?url=http://www.mommyisworkingathome.com.Visit her Interesting Site on Asian Travels and Destinations. Discover Asia’s Culture and Great Food! at https://secrets2meditation.com/goto/?url=http://www.wheretogoinasia.com.

Meditation in Phuket, Thailand – Your Path to Mental Enlightenment

Article by Exotissimo Travel

Is meditation some thing you have constantly desired to discover much more about but never ever recognized how or where to do so? No worries! Exotissimo has a 50 percent day session devoted solely on meditation training! You will find out the fundamental methods utilized in mediation, then venture up on a hilltop temple to place what you learned into practice.

Very first, let’s briefly touch on meditation, and understand what it does for the body and mind. When one is meditating, the man or woman is producing a aware effort to transform how his/her thoughts performs. For instance, someone may possibly resort to anger also quickly but would like to adjust this aspect of him or herself. He/she might remind him or herself not to get angry, but when a specific situation arises, ends up becoming crossed anyway since anger has arisen in without him or her knowing it. Mediation can help in creating that recognition to enhance psychological routines like involuntary anger.

Meditation starts with breathing. How many times in the course of the day have you actually discovered by yourself inhaling and exhaling for air? Don’t be concerned if you stated none. Many do not realize they are even breathing during the day. It is, nevertheless an critical aspect for the duration of meditation, and it will help you make your head clearer and a lot more lucid. A cozy sitting placement is also essential numerous pick to sit in the classic cross-legged posture although other folks could decide on to relaxation on a chair. To prevent the head from becoming sluggish, your back ought to be straight at all time. Sit with your eyes partially closed and breathe normally.

You could discover that your thoughts is occupied, even more so than normal as you are meditating. The truth of the issue is that you are becoming a lot more mindful of how occupied your mind in fact is. It is tempting to wander off and focus on what the thoughts is contemplating during meditation. If you uncover your self undertaking that, just quickly concentrate again to your breathing.

Alright, now you know some meditation fundamentals that you can apply at property. For you to be in a position to meditate appropriately and a lot more successfully, it is greatest to seek out out assistance from renowned monks who practice it each and every day. Our Meditation Instruction in Phuket day trip takes you to numerous temples wherever you will understand a variety of meditation tactics and methods. Soon after absorbing all this data, you will apply it on a hilltop temple with a breathtaking view, a excellent area to relax the brain!

But wait around, you don’t have to limit your meditation instruction just to Phuket. You can usually get in touch with us if you would like to include meditation training in any of our excursions. All of our packages are customizable, so come to feel totally free to tell Exotissimo what you would like to do for the duration of your Southeast Asian holiday getaway and we will function towards your ideal vacation!

Set your mind totally free!

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About the Author

Established in 1993, Exotissimo Travel is a nicely acknowledged Tour Operator with 16 offices during Southeast Asia. We have the expertise and connections to produce your perfect excursions in Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Indonesia at the very best feasible price.