Thais seek to restore fortunes with mock funerals

[webfact]

Thais seek to restore fortunes with mock funerals

By Jiraporn Kuhakan

 

Devotees lie down and pray inside coffins to trick death and improve their luck at a temple in Bangkok, Thailand January 27, 2021. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - In a temple on the outskirts of Bangkok, participants at a daily ritual clutch a bunch of flowers and lie down in a coffin with a sheet pulled over them as monks chant.

 

The Wat Bangna Nai temple in the Thai capital draws more than 100 people a day who choose to perform the ceremony in the hope it can improve their fortunes or give them a fresh start.

 

And for some at least, the pressures of life during the pandemic have made the ritual take on more importance.

 

"I have to admit that I'm stressed these days because I am earning less income because of the pandemic and I'm sure everyone here is feeling the same," said Nutsarang Sihard, a 52-year-old food stall owner, who took part in the ceremony.

 

Coffins are seen for devotees to lie down in to pray in a ritual to trick death and change their luck at a temple in Bangkok, Thailand January 27, 2021. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun

 

Participants pay 100 baht ($3.30) for the flowers, candles, and clothing that are part of the ceremony.

 

They follow the instructions of the monks, by at first lying in a coffin with their heads facing to the west, the direction bodies may be buried, before switching sides to symbolise rebirth.

 

"I felt like I was reborn, came back to life again and became a new person," said Nutsarang.

 

Another participant at the ceremony, Chonlathit Nimimenwai, 23, said she attended because a fortune teller told her that her life was in danger.

 

"It made me feel stressed. That's why I'm here today because I want to feel better."

 

Many temples in Thailand hold similar ceremonies and Prakru Prapath Waranukij, a monk who performed this ceremony, said that while the ritual had received some criticism online he felt it was important to ponder death.

 

"It reminds people that one day we will die, so we must be careful about the way we live our lives," said Prakru.

 

(Writing by Ed Davies; Editing by Giles Elgood)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2021-01-28

 

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[djayz]

Can't believe this is happening in 2021 / 2564! 

[Justgrazing]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

They follow the instructions of the monks, by at first lying in a coffin with their heads facing to the west,

 

Be no good for me .. with the metal in my leg I keep pointing North like a compass .. 

[Glaswegian2]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Thais seek to restore fortunes with mock funerals

By Jiraporn Kuhakan

 

Devotees lie down and pray inside coffins to trick death and improve their luck at a temple in Bangkok, Thailand January 27, 2021. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - In a temple on the outskirts of Bangkok, participants at a daily ritual clutch a bunch of flowers and lie down in a coffin with a sheet pulled over them as monks chant.

 

The Wat Bangna Nai temple in the Thai capital draws more than 100 people a day who choose to perform the ceremony in the hope it can improve their fortunes or give them a fresh start.

 

And for some at least, the pressures of life during the pandemic have made the ritual take on more importance.

 

"I have to admit that I'm stressed these days because I am earning less income because of the pandemic and I'm sure everyone here is feeling the same," said Nutsarang Sihard, a 52-year-old food stall owner, who took part in the ceremony.

 

Coffins are seen for devotees to lie down in to pray in a ritual to trick death and change their luck at a temple in Bangkok, Thailand January 27, 2021. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun

 

Participants pay 100 baht ($3.30) for the flowers, candles, and clothing that are part of the ceremony.

 

They follow the instructions of the monks, by at first lying in a coffin with their heads facing to the west, the direction bodies may be buried, before switching sides to symbolise rebirth.

 

"I felt like I was reborn, came back to life again and became a new person," said Nutsarang.

 

Another participant at the ceremony, Chonlathit Nimimenwai, 23, said she attended because a fortune teller told her that her life was in danger.

 

"It made me feel stressed. That's why I'm here today because I want to feel better."

 

Many temples in Thailand hold similar ceremonies and Prakru Prapath Waranukij, a monk who performed this ceremony, said that while the ritual had received some criticism online he felt it was important to ponder death.

 

"It reminds people that one day we will die, so we must be careful about the way we live our lives," said Prakru.

 

(Writing by Ed Davies; Editing by Giles Elgood)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2021-01-28

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

 

 And they do seem to wonder why people don't take them very seriously.

 

 

 

[Justgrazing]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

 

"I felt like I was reborn, came back to life again and became a new person," said Nutsarang

 

some of the gal's would be in an' out of the casket like a jack in the box to come as virgin's ..

[zzaa09]

Whatever works.....

[Misterwhisper]

I have seen a lot of absurd, mind-boggling things in my 30 years living in Thailand. But this bizarre ceremony - which by its very set-up is as far removed from Buddhist teachings as it can possibly get - always has been among my top favorites.

 

The only "fresh start" those "devotees" get in their lives is that they're leaving the temple with 100 baht less in their pockets. I am sure that's going to help them immeasurably when they're reflecting on their screwed-up situation like an adult.

 

Oh, they still will have to die one day, of course. And out the window flies the entire notion of "tricking death".  

[billd766]

4 hours ago, djayz said:

Can't believe this is happening in 2021 / 2564! 

Why not? People in the west often pray daily to an invisible person who is the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. They also eat a wafer symbolising the flesh and drink communion red wine symbolising the blood. They sometimes leave a donation at the church.

 

Many of them go into a box and confess all their sins to a celibate man and are given some sort of punishment for committing those sins.

 

Only the methods are different between the east and the west.

 

I gave up on organised religion decades ago and IMHO, if doing stuff that makes people happy, then good for them. It does nothing for me.

[Glaswegian2]

1 hour ago, Misterwhisper said:

I have seen a lot of absurd, mind-boggling things in my 30 years living in Thailand. But this bizarre ceremony - which by its very set-up is as far removed from Buddhist teachings as it can possibly get - always has been among my top favorites.

 

The only "fresh start" those "devotees" get in their lives is that they're leaving the temple with 100 baht less in their pockets. I am sure that's going to help them immeasurably when they're reflecting on their screwed-up situation like an adult.

 

Oh, they still will have to die one day, of course. And out the window flies the entire notion of "tricking death".  

 

Well, it's not that surprising when measured against the much beloved Thai habit of bestowing a 'nickname' on children almost as soon as they depart their host uterus. I was surprised to hear recently that the logic behind this is that the devil is waiting at every single birth so he can capture the soul of the newborn child which requires him to know the name. So they give the real name and then the nickname, confident in the knowledge that they are confusing  the devil.

 

They obviously think the devil is a Thai and isn't very smart.

 

 

[djayz]

2 hours ago, billd766 said:

Why not? People in the west often pray daily to an invisible person who is the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. They also eat a wafer symbolising the flesh and drink communion red wine symbolising the blood. They sometimes leave a donation at the church.

 

Many of them go into a box and confess all their sins to a celibate man and are given some sort of punishment for committing those sins.

 

Only the methods are different between the east and the west.

 

I gave up on organised religion decades ago and IMHO, if doing stuff that makes people happy, then good for them. It does nothing for me.

I meant all that hocas-pocus, in the East, the West and every pace in between. 

[Tim207]

Everybody seems to be bashing this but my first reacttion was i want to do it. lol Fun interesting experience for 100 baht, cant beat that. Not interested in a life changebut it sounds like an amusing experience. For the believers, if it makes them feel better, whatever works. They are not causing any harm and the temple isnt getting rich or taking advantage of desperate people charging exhorbitant fees. It is a good way to cement phsycologically a change in someones life path. Lots of people make new years resolutions for the same reason. Most fail to change but some can use that as a starting point for meaningful change.

[CharlieH]

A number of posts removed.

 

Please do not mock or ridicule Thai beliefs.

 

11) You will not post slurs, degrading or overly negative comments directed towards Thailand, specific locations, Thai institutions such as the judicial or law enforcement system, Thai culture, Thai people or any other group on the basis of race, nationality, religion, gender or sexual orientation.

 

 

[djayz]

3 hours ago, Tim207 said:

the temple isnt getting rich or taking advantage of desperate people

???? 

The dimwitted then? 

[hotchilli]

19 hours ago, webfact said:

And for some at least, the pressures of life during the pandemic have made the ritual take on more importance.

And getting in a coffin is going to help...... really????

Jeez.

[colinneil]

 

_{Now that is virgin on the ridiculous..}

Edited January 28, 2021 by colinneil