Respect Ceremony

Respect is the best of virtue which should be put in all community. In Buddhism, the Buddha always encouraged people to pay respect to each other; the junior to the senior. Respect is a symbol of civilization and it produces such a good result; peace and harmony, to community.

In Buddhism, during a couple of weeks after the entering of Buddhist lent, the junior will gather to pay their respect to the senior monks. And in the same time, the senior monks will bless them and say words of wisdom to them for the benefit of the study and practice. It is a good tradition which should be carried on.

Today in The Buddhapadipa Temple, there is a respect ceremony; the Thai Theravada Buddhist monks gather together and pay respect to two senior monks; Amara Thera, the head monk of The Buddhapadipa Temple and Sumedho Thera, the head monk of The Amaravati Buddhist monastery. It is good environment which is filled with respect, gratitude, loving-kindness and compassion.

I can say that ‘Respect’ pays important role in every community. We should bear in our mind that if we give people respect, we will be respected.