temple stay - and switching blog language
Hi everyone,
now that the number of my english speaking friends is growing and because they may be interested in my travel reports - I decided to get on with my blog in english. It is also a great opportunity for practising - for me AND for my german friends 
The main religion - 95 % - in Thailand is the Theravada-buddhism. It teaches a detached attitude with an effort not to judge human behavior or weaknesses.
All over the country are a lot of temples - 32.000. In singburi we could go on an hour-walk and easily visit 3 temples.
They are not only religious places but also centres of social local life. In the connected monastries live about 200.000 monks.
I am very interested in discovering the advantages of the buddhist way of seeing the world for everyday-life.
Think of the dalai lama - if the world's leaders were all like him - that would change the world, wouldn't it?
So I was excited about the announcement of the temple stay in the itinerary: "extraordinary experience for all those interested in discovering more about Buddhism and the Thai monks way of life. To stay in a temple overnight, alongside practising monks is an opportunity that few westerners ever get the chance to experience. You will be taught meditation techniques and the underlying philosophy of Buddhism. There will be ample opportunity to ask questions on all aspects of Buddhism and practice meditation as much as you desire. The accomodation for the overnight stay is very basic."
So far - so good. But reality is mostly not what a leaflet promises. In our case the templestay was an quite interesting experience, but it could have been far more - if there had been anyone really interested in giving people of other cultures a deaper understanding of buddhism. Doing this with more commitment might be a future businessmodel for temples...
Here I make an humble attempt in describing the basic concepts of buddhism:
Foundation of buddhism are 'The Four Noble Truths' which Buddha recognised in the moment of enlightment:
- life is suffering
- suffering is caused from delusion, attachment and desire
- the end of suffering is the overcoming of desire
- desire could be overcome by following The Noble Eightfold Path - and that is the end of suffering
Most of our unhappiness or happiness stems from the condition of our mind. If we develop our wisdom, our morality and our mind on The Noble Eightfold Path we and the world around us will be happier ...
And now some wordly impressions of our travel:
one of the countless Thai temples in our neighborhood - not the one in which we stayed, that one was kind of run-down, I didn't take any picture
four apprentice-nuns: Marny (cyprus), Wilma (scotland), Heidi (good old germany) and Julia (england)
we had to wear white clothes, had to sleep on the floor and tried hard to meditate.
the monk who teached us chanting, meditating (sit, cross your legs and close your eyes - may be there is more to it? he didn't tell us) and walking meditation. Behind him the 'unholy' cat, disturbing all the time
here the cat enjoying herself between us during concentrated chanting, a furtive closeup ...
every morning with sunrise the monks collect alms. It is food for themselves and for the poor ones. People who contribute receive a blessing and improve their karma for the next life (a hinduistic belief)
the outcome of collecting alms: more than 50 maindishes of roughly 20 different kinds (top) and various sweets (bottom)
In Thailand is the belief in spirits as present as the buddhism with it's temples. You can sense the belief in spirits in every garden - the spirit of the place is very important and has to be cared for with a small home of it's own and with gifts like water, food, flowers and incense-sticks:
the small home of 'the spirit of the place' in a garden. You see them everywhere.
worshiping of 'the spirit of the place' at river kwae bridge.
Even cars have a spirit - you find flowers et al hanging from the rear mirror in every car. So your spirit makes sure you always get home savely.