:: Buddhapadipa Thai Temple

Sunday 18^th November 2550/2007 saw Buddhapdipa blessed with the celebration of three events on the same day. The Kathina Festival happens every year at the end of the three month Buddhist Rainy Retreat. The Rainy Retreat (from the end of July to the end of October) is the time that the rules of the Vinaya require the monks to remain at their temple and concentrate on their practice. In the Buddha’s time, monks’ robes used to be made of patchwork material sewn together from fragments of discarded material found in cemetery grounds or along the roadside and so forth. At the end of the rainy season these robes were in a sorry state and it became the established practice at the end of the retreat for the lay community to offer monks new robes in appreciation of their devoted practice.

Another ceremony that has its roots deep in the Brahmin tradition that the Buddha will have grown up in, is the launching of ‘Krathong’ or small boats in the shape of a lily holding a lit candle and incense. Sometimes people cut off a lock of their hair and put this on the delicate vessel to symbolise a separation from their bad luck and a floating away of their troubles. The ceremony was also a devotion to the water spirits. Krathong in Thailand are traditionally made of banana leaves. However, as we do not have many banana trees is our rather wet and non-tropical English landscape our krathong are made of polystyrene and decorated with brightly coloured tissue papers. It is a wonderful sight to see the candles of all the Krathong flickering on the surface of the temple pond and always creates an atmosphere of peace and wonder!

This year this almost magical picture was added to by the presence of HRH Princess Soamsawali who came to join members of the Thai community in wishing His Majesty the King a healthy and long-life in this, his eightieth year. Her Royal Highness also received the royal robes on behalf of His Majesty the King and offered these to the monks of the temple. Sadly the weather in the afternoon was very rainy. The weather made it impossible for the Princess to be present at the launch of the royal Krathong.

The Lay Buddhist Association book stall was this year positioned on the balcony outside the monks’ house. We were sheltered by the canopy – which acts as a protection against rain as well as sun! Our stall was next to the Money Tree and we had the opportunity of witnessing the great generosity of the Thai community who came and gave Danna. We also had the opportunity to help stop the notes of Thai, European and English currencies blowing away when large gusts of wind caught us unawares. Many people braved the rainy weather and came and spoke with us and shared their stories of attending similar ceremonies in Thailand. People also gave generously to the LBA, often encouraged by the Thai ladies in charge of the Money Tree.