Mystical Thailand: Visiting Thai Temples like a Mystic
In Thai Buddhism, as with every religion, there are different levels of understanding, different schools of thought — and by this we don’t mean the difference between Theravada Buddhism (Thailand’s official religion) and Mahayana Buddhism, but rather the manner in which people approach sacred texts and iconography.
The most profound interpretations of Buddhism in Thailand are found among mystic monks, who rarely (if ever) write down or publish anything, but pass down their wisdom solely by word of mouth to their followers. Much like the Buddha passed down the Dharma only through his spoken sermons.
The universal theme of the mystic tradition in Thai Buddhism is similar to that of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. That is: what is without is within (and vice versa). The realization of this mystical truth is what led the Buddha to say: “You are what you think. All that you are arises from your thoughts. With your thoughts you make your world.”
The mystical approach opens up an entirely new world when visiting Thailand’s temples. For when you do, you no longer see temples as religious places filled with objects to be prayed to by the faithful, but as sacred places that reflect the eternal verities of the spiritual life — that which is found within all people, regardless of their religion or belief.
In other words, when you visit a Thai temple, it should be a voyage of self-discovery. And since this spiritual voyage is never ending, you’ll always discover something new about yourself at every temple you visit — as long as you walk the path of the mystic. Here are some stepping stones to get you started.
Temple grounds: The entire temple grounds, and everything it contains, is symbolic of the grand spiritual center that exists within us all, that fertile ground which is immune to any material misfortune, and is a source of unending beauty and joy. When you see a Thai temple being meticulously swept and cared for by monks, you should ask yourself how you have been tending to your spiritual life. What important areas have you allowed to gather dust, cobwebs, and detritus?
Temple Guardians: Every Thai temple has guardians at the entrance — be they Naga Dragons, Singha Lions, or Yaksha Giants. These guardians serve as a reminder to you that your temple (i.e. spiritual center) should be rigorously guarded against intruders. These include destructive habits, thoughts, and people — indeed, any habit, thought, or person who is not bringing out the best in you and those who surround you.
Buddha Statues: Statues of the Buddha at Thai temples represent the enlightened consciousness that we all seek to attain, the awakening of the Child of God within us. When a mystic prays before a statue of the Buddha, they do not pray TO the Buddha, but rather they envision themselves as having achieved perfect enlightenment, with perfect kindness, love, patience, wisdom, strength, and equanimity — for as you thinketh, so you are.
Read the Full and Newly Edited Version of This Essay
in Why Thailand: Short Essays on Thai Culture, Language, and Life
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