Visakha Bucha Day

Visakha Bucha (Vesak) means the worship of the Buddha on the full moon day of the sixth lunar month. It usually falls in May. In the case of a year with an extra eighth lunar month–Adhikamasa (there are 13 full moons in that year)– the Visakha Bucha Day falls on the full moon day of the seventh lunar month.

Visakh Bucha day is a day of making merit and this was a day I have been looking forward to as Buddha and I needed to have a long talk.

I’m a firm believer that every Thai holiday is best enjoyed in the company of Thai friends and surrounded by Thai people, not only do you get a better understanding of whats going on around you but you get a real sense of community and in the case of a spiritual holiday such as Visakha Bucha day, if you are like me, you get a nice sense of spirituality. Personally I’m not the religious type but I find a certain calm and awareness in the midst of performing the Buddhist rituals associated with such a holiday.

Luckily for me my spiritual awakening this day was close at hand as Wat Chi Mong Khon just happens to be right around the corner from my condo. I spent the day with my good friend Tukta and we decided it would be nice to head to the Wat at sunset. As we walked up the street I started thinking carefully what I would speak to Buddha about and hoped he was in a listening mood today.

As we approached the Wat the crowds of faithful grew thicker and as we entered the Wat grounds we had our first opportunity for a Buddhist blessing as an elder monk was performing mass blessings in front of the main courtyard. We removed our shoes and knelt as he said his blessings and doused us with holy water, this was my first opportunity for a little chat with Buddha.

Afterwards we made a donation at the gate to the main courtyard and picked up our flowers, candles and incense. After lighting the incense and candle you hold the flowers along with the lit incense and candle in a wai and walk quietly 3 times around the main halls courtyard, this was my second chance to talk with Buddha a little. After your third round you are back at the entrance where you plant the incense and candles in  holders and say a prayer to Buddha before laying the flowers down as well. I can’t explain it but this is something I really enjoy as it brings a sense of peace and well being.

We then entered the Wat where we made another offering and chose our offerings to the monk who would be giving us a blessing. The standard offering is an orange bucket filled with food and household items which we would give and we also made a special offering of saffron robes. The offerings you get right there at the Wat for an offering of money. In this case we made an offering of 300 baht, 100 baht for the bucket, 100 baht for the robes and 100 baht that we would put in the envelope and hand to the monk as well.

We then knelt before the monk as he offered us his blessing and sprinkled us with holy water. We then gave our offerings before the final blessing. The final blessing entails a small metal flask and bowl. The flask is filled with holy water and is poured into the small bowl by one person as the monk says his blessing, the second person holds onto the pouring arm of the person pouring. When the blessing is done the bowl is then taken outside and the water poured onto a tree.

As Tukta poured out the water I saw my last chance to speak with Buddha, A small offering chest where you can write your wishes or thoughts down and add them with your offering. I had my chance to speak with Buddha several times and while I thought I would say one thing I ended up saying something completely different. I summed it all up with my last offering. Thank you for the opportunity to live in this wonderful country and enjoy it’s amazing culture, Thank you for the many Thai and foreign friends I have made and Thank you for allowing me to take part is this special day.