Kao Pansa

This coming weekend is the Buddhist holiday called Kao Pansa.  In the old days (and still today) monks travel around the country to serve in other temples and lead meditation.  During the rainy season however (the crop growing season) monks would often trample rice patties and cause crop destruction.  Buddha, in his infinite wisdom, created Kao Pansa.  This three month (lent like) holiday keeps the monks at their given temple—where they cannot leave for the three months of rainy season.  During this time monks eat only once a day and rarely leave the temple grounds except for necessities within their village. 

People from local districts often visit every single Wat (temple) in their district (often 10 or 20) paying homage to their monks who make this sacrifice so that their own crops might grow in peace.  They bring candles, pray and meditate.  They ask forgiveness for the evils in their lives and ask to leave them in the Wat taking with them only the peace and prosperity that meditation has brought them.  It is a time for meditation, prayer and repentance.  It is a time of gratitude.  In such a dynamically Buddhist country it is interesting to note that such a large part of the population participates.  When talking to my translator today I asked “do people really believe in this” and he answered, “some do and some don’t but it’s the principle that the leaders of our religion give up and have given up so much so that we can have our daily lives.” 

I had the opportunity to participate in a small way.  As a local business often dependent on the community around us we paid respect to our five main temples which are often the focal point of religious life.  We met several monks (old and new) who we prayed with and left our offerings.  Ton, my favorite, is from the east and led us in a guided meditation… leaving us in silence for a few moments and then saying in broken English “come back to center, come back to center” and then allowed us to go back into silence.  I’m not the best at meditation and the heat and sweat of the day didn't help but having the opportunity to escape my often-crazy mind was the reprieve I so very needed today.  I left my anger and frustration at the temple doors and took with me (even if only for a moment) the peace that the place offered.  It was not required of me to carry pain or even my own humanity anymore.  God was present.  I was not alone.

Tomorrow I head into Chiang Mai—the office is closed for the national holiday.  I’ll be joining a guided meditation at the yoga tree, hitting a meeting and enjoying the air conditioning in typical American style.