Journey to Peace Village

The vast majority of people in Thailand are Buddhists and the religion is an important part of the cultural fabric of life here. Today is a public holiday in Thailand-- Makabucha Day; it is the day that 1250 disciples of the Buddha gathered to listen to his first speech after enlightment. It is the day he outlined Dharma Buddhist religious teachings. There are big ceremonies at the temple tonight where people gather with candles and flowers to receive and give blessings.
I had an extraordinary experience as well today. I went to visit Wat Khun Chi, a small Buddhist temple near my residence. It started off as any visit as I cast admiring glances at the artwork and peacefulness of this island within the bustling town of Phuket. Then I heard a bell.
A bell ringing, sounding off clear and strong among the cackling roosters. I followed the sound to a path behind a small, ordinary looking building.
There were women in white there, looking very much like the sisters who educated me when I was growing up. I looked around and listened to the chanting coming from an upstairs room. A younger nun explained that they were praying and it would last for two hours. I was hesitant to go up the stairs. Would I be allowed in?
An older nun indicated a place to put my shoes and gestured me to go up. I ascended my stairs and gathered there were women of all ages, from teenagers to those in their nineties. Most sat on the floor with their legs tucked behind them, chanting. In the front was a shrine with a large statue of the Buddha, flanked by two statues of men on either side, draped in saffron gowns. The altar also had smaller statues of Buddhist saints leading horizontally to the big statue. It was actually a small chapel and there were about twenty nuns, novices and laypeople gathered there, along with two tabby cats who were sleeping at the entrance. I stayed for almost the entire service and it was quite calming and uplifting. At the end one of the nuns unwrapped several long planks of bamboo, which had some of the scriptures on them. Even though I couldn't understand a word, I felt myself in the presence of people of great faith and I was struck by the similarity to many of the Catholic rituals I have attended throughout my life.

Labels: Buddhism, Phuket, religion and culture, Thailand