Could someone explain a bit more about the buddhist holiday coming up this week-end?
I noticed they have plenty of (huge) candles and stuff stocked up at Tesco, including all kinds of offering baskets ( with razor, face cloths, mini-toothpaste, batteries, brown monk-flip-flops etc) and even 3 sizes of first aids kits for monks on sale
Also heard rumours that the bars will be closed on Sund-Mond?
I think it's got to with giving something up (as a Christian Lent) and also not making major decisions about your life during that time.
The thing is that it seems to last for 3 months.
When my wife and I got married two years ago, it was on the 15th July. However, the Buddhist blessing couldn't happen until November 11th. That was what my mother-in-law said. She's a Buddhist Nun here in Hua Hin and that was the final word on the matter.
I had to show some dowry (sin sod) at that time and I needed another month to get it together, hence the delay. Plus it's astrological, so the moon's got to be in the right place.
As far as "big decisions" are concerned, they definitely involve getting married (Buddhist style) and moving house during those three month. My wife was married before (Buddhist style) and the two of them wanted to move house. The mother said "no" during the Lent period. They went ahead anyway and the "husband" died in a motorbike accident afterwards.
So, I bet my wife will give up something for three months - last year it was booze - but she didn't last the course. I never said anything.
These thoughts are simply mine. Maybe someone more up on the religion can help more than this?
However, never try to get a person out of their faith, regardless of your convictions.
Another aspect:
As it's the rainy season and the rice is being planted, the monks stay in their temples and pray for a good harvest,
During these three months, the monks do not go out of the temple and ask for "bintabart", their alms. It has to be brought to them. They're praying.
That's directly from my wife.
She dosn't understand why we all see monks walking around during these three months, but there you go.
As far as the Buddhist calendar is concerned, I'll give a stab that it's all about the first incarnation or enlightenment.
When we got married, I got really confused about months.
I was working on the western calendar. My MIL was working from the Buddhist one. I can't remember exactly, but there was about 2 weeks difference. Her Mum was looking off a western calendar, but counting the months from about half way through,
"So what is it? Month 8 or 9?" It got me really frustrated, but it all worked out in the end.
And I havn't been to visit her since the Buddhist blessing almost two years ago. The temple is only 10 mins away by motorcycle. I speak to her on the phone, but this thread has got me thinking about a visit.
