Mobile VersionDhammachai Pilgrimage for Buddhism Restoration
Turn the Abandoned Temples to Be Flourishing Again
Edited from the Inner Dream Kindergarten program broadcasting on DMC
The Dhammachai pilgrimage of the monks in the 3rd 100,000–Monk Mass Ordination project of a training center in Nakhon Ratchasima province is to restore Buddhism and strengthen the Buddhist communities. The wandering monks left the Ku Muang Junction in Khamsakaesaeng district and traveled to develop the temples and brought the Dhamma light to the Buddhists’ heart in four communities which were Srajaeng Temple and Chiwig Temple in Khamsakaesaeng district, the Nontokmok Dhutanga Retreat Center (Nonputsa) and Khla Temple in Nonsoong district. This pilgrimage is over 50 total kilometers through the project.
Wherever the wandering had moved, the residents welcomed warmly. They sat together and paid respect to the monks on the pathways. Some houses prepared the cool drinking water to offer the monks. Someone offered the dried food and rice to the monks as well. This made the hot weather turned to be the peaceful atmosphere and the donators to be happy because of the big merit. The residents along the both pathways said that they had no idea that they would see the wandering monks traveling past their houses and they were very happy. They have never seen anything like this.
An old woman said that although she was sick and had fever, she suppressed to sit in the sunlight because she wanted to see the wandering monks. She wanted to see the monastic robes. Even though the weather was hot, her heart was calm and happy. The wandering monks were respectable. She was sure that she would get well soon.
When the wandering monks reached the Nontokmok Dhutanga Retreat Center in Nonsoong district, the local Buddhists were alerted with the picture of the monks because this retreat center had been abandoned for over two years. So the residents did not see a lot of the monks for a long time. They came together to wash the monks’ feet and scattered the flowers to welcome the wandering monks happily.
One of the local residents unveiled that she was glad to hear that the wandering monks would come there and she thought what she would prepare to offer. The local residents had been waiting the monks since the morning because they wanted to see the monastic robes. They also persuaded to prepare the meal for the monks and shared 20 – 200 Baht each. Some brought their cups, plates, bowls, etc to lend. They did it in harmony. They did not make merit together for a long time because there was not any monk. So when the monks came there, they were very happy and wanted to make merit. When the monks went for the morning alms round, a large number of residents came out to offer. She thought that it was the wonderful picture and felt that people in her village were more active and alerted because they had never seen the picture like this. A known man also told her that this was his first time to offer the morning alms round with a large number of wandering monks and he cried with joy. She was over joy and could not say anything. The residents talked to one another that the wandering monks had the nice manner and were courteous and calm which caused them to be more faithful and wanted to pay respect to and make merit with. They wanted the monks to stay there and they would make merit with the monks everyday.
The representative monk unveiled that the pilgrimage was one of the best experience in his life because it was following the Lord Buddha’s way. He was over 50 years old but he was not proud like this before. Even though the weather was very hot and the pathways were not smooth, all the monks did not discourage. They intended to develop the temples together and wanted to be the real monks for teaching the congregations. This made the monks moving forward and not be tired at all.
When the wandering monks reached the Nontokmok Dhutanga Retreat Center, they were surprised because this retreat center was abandoned. But the residents still believed in Buddhism, so they went there and lined up to welcome the wandering monks. They also prepared the drinking water and Pana drinks* to offer the monks. This increased the monks’ willpower very much. Firstly, the representative monk was sad when he knew that this temple was abandoned, no abbot and monks. He had the deep intention that he would cultivate himself more and more and one day in the future, he would come back there to develop this abandoned temple to be flourishing again.
* Pana drinks. One of the monastic precepts in Buddhism is the monks have no dinner but they can have Pana drinks to relieve their hunger or to make them be better if they were sick. Most of Pana drinks are the fruit juices. Milk and drinking yogurt are Pana drinks as well.
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