He rejoined the world to teach people his Middle Way. He found five of his fellow seekers whom he had fasted with. They quickly became aware of the changes brought about by his enlightenment. The Buddha, the name Siddhartha had taken up after he became enlightened, taught them what is now the essential teachings of Buddhism. All five later became enlightened too and are referred to as the Arhants or saints.
When did Buddhism come to Thailand?
The first person that introduced Buddhism to Thailand was Emperor Asoka. Asoka helped the elderly monk named Moggallitissa to choose some monks to visit neighbouring countries and introduce Buddhism there. Two enlightened monks, called Sona and Uttara went to Thailand or what was known then as Siam. The Siamese people were happy and excepted Buddhism on the whole. This was done in 218 years after the death of the Buddha.
Buddhism Today
The Buddha's teachings consist of three basic principles:-
- Sila – the development of morality
- Samadhi – the tool to purify the mind to see how to use it, how to control it and how to develop it
- Panna –wisdom or Enlightenment
The Middle Path of Life is based on Right Understanding, Right Though, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, and, Right Concentration.
The middle path is the in between. It is neither a paths to sensual pleasure but it is also not the path to hardship. The other 2 paths are unprofitable as you will always feel disappointed. The Buddha had tried both paths but then during his enlightenment had discovered the Middle Path. The Path which leads to knowledge and enlightenment.
In the Buddhapadipa Temple
There were 3 buildings and a large area of grounds with a lake.
The first building was where the monks ate and slept. It had all the basic facilities that a house would provide, a kitchen, 9 bedrooms (1for each monk) toilets and a dining area.
The main building was the temple. I was a beautiful white building with a red and gold roof. There was a large quiet room which they used for meditation. It has an alter which on it has the statue of the Buddha as he is their teacher, candle to symbolise the light of wisdom, lotus and incense to pay respect. They use this room mainly when it is cold as they also use the gardens outside. In the temple upstairs there is a large room with a mural describing the Buddha’s life but also including signs of evil as it has the eyes of Mara on either side of the door. The mural also includes famous people from modern day life such as Margaret Thatcher and George Bush Senior as it makes us, young people, relate to the stories. There is also a very large shrine with a jade Buddha on it. It has all the things that the alter downstairs has, but is much larger and grander.
They have a beautiful garden with words of wisdom placed around for visitors to read. There are also small statues of the Buddha so that if the monks wish to meditate outside then they can still be near a statue of the Buddha. There are many places for quiet meditation and there is a large pond which has streams going all around the grounds. Everything it well kept and beautiful.
There are teaching rooms as well, as the monks teach others and there are also rooms for people who are coming on retreats to stay in.
The Talk
Buddhist people have 2 names: one from there parents and one from their predecessor. The Buddhist monks wear orange robe with a t-shirt and short underneath, but in other temples the monks can wear dark green or yellow robes.
The word Buddhapadipa means Buddha and light.
Buddhism has 5 main factors
- Teacher
- Teaching
- Follower
- Religious building
- Ceremony –celebrate Buddha days
Sanga -order of Buddhist community
Some facts about Buddhist Monks and Buddhism
- Buddhist monks don’t get marry so can’t have sex.
- You have to be ordained to become a monk.
- Women and men can become monks.
- A Buddhist monk’s hair can only be 0-2 inches long.
- There is no set time for meditation
- The Buddha was cremated
- There is no punishment in Buddhism
- Buddhist monks only eat 2 meals day –breakfast and lunch
- A Tai Buddhist monk comes to the UK for 4 years
- Karma is do good see good -do bad see bad
- There are 2 main traditions in Buddhism.
- Terowade
- Mahajana
How Worship takes place
We were not actually witnesses to Buddhist worship but we know that the temple is used for worship as it is quiet and peaceful and the pictures provide excellent sources of meditation.
My impressions
The monks there were very hospitable as they offered us drinks and food even though they only get what they have from the generosity of the community as the monks have not got any possessions of their own. The generosity of the community is outstanding. To have provided these monks with such a beautiful place to live and meditate in.
The atmosphere was brilliant even though there were lots of us there you could tell that is would be a very tranquil environment. The monks only have what they need and you could tell this as they only wore and orange robe which they only had to protect them from the cold.
Every thing is looked after very well. There was no litter lying around, the grass was kept cut and inside you had to take your shoes off before entering to keep dirt at a minimal. I felt really at peace when I was there.
I think it is rather like a school, as the monks wear their orange robes like a uniform, and, they are also learning things while they meditate.
To have such commitment to their religion is inspiring as they have left all there friends and family to come to England and teach others about their religion does she impeccable commitment.
Evaluation of my Experience
I enjoyed the visit very much as it gave me an insight into a different religion. It gave me much to think about as to me, to live in such a way as to have no possessions and to spend hours on end in meditation trying to reach nirvana seems very hard but the man who gave us the talk who had been a monk for 19 years thoroughly enjoyed it. I found that everyone there was very hospitable and kind and it made me think that maybe if everyone was Buddhist then we would have no wars as everyone would be at peace with what they had and with others. Yet I can see how difficult it must be to give up everything and worship a religion that some people say isn’t actually a religion as you have no god.
The whole visit taught me things that I wouldn’t have been able to learn I a lesson out of a text book, but, to have seen it with my own eyes makes me think that I will remember all I have learnt.