Holy String

[jaya84]

Hello,

Last year i went to Thailand and of course visited many temples, me and my family ot a blessing done at one of the temples, and had the white thread tied around our wrists, i still have mine one and is showing no sign of falling off, but my question is, can i have another put on if that one is still there? im going again at the end of the month and i would like to know whether i can or not, dont want to embarrass myself in the temple!!!

[L--T]

Hello,

Last year i went to Thailand and of course visited many temples, me and my family ot a blessing done at one of the temples, and had the white thread tied around our wrists, i still have mine one and is showing no sign of falling off, but my question is, can i have another put on if that one is still there? im going again at the end of the month and i would like to know whether i can or not, dont want to embarrass myself in the temple!!!

It's called Sai Sin.......

Sure you can...but most people don't ask.

Given by Buddhist friends & family, monks, for stay safe, be lucky, happy etc.

A wedding couple will have hundreds by the end of the marriage day................

At the Wat, look for a monk,maybe sitting, chatting to lay people, go over with a bottle of refreshment.(not beer) to give to him & have a chat.

Just ask where you can get a Sai-Sin tied on.

It's really a blessing you're be asking for & a Sai-Sin is just a part of it.

I get quite a few as I often "go & return" & it's no problem, but I say,"tie them loose---------tie them loose," as sometimes it's inappropriate to have them ( ---so I roll them up towards my elbow, out of sight).

Buddhism has rubbed off on me & I would feel very bad cutting them off. So I don't.

[sabaijai]

Hello,

Last year i went to Thailand and of course visited many temples, me and my family ot a blessing done at one of the temples, and had the white thread tied around our wrists, i still have mine one and is showing no sign of falling off, but my question is, can i have another put on if that one is still there? im going again at the end of the month and i would like to know whether i can or not, dont want to embarrass myself in the temple!!!

There's an earlier thread about this custom here.

As far as I know, it's fine to have another thread tied where the older one has been tied. It's also OK to take them off after three days, according to some people.

[chownah]

The string that my mother in law tied on my wrist when she married us lasted for 5 days short of 2 years.....and during that time I got lots of other ones for all of the holidays and special occasions that happen when you live in a Thai village for almost two years....so....definitely you can get new strings when you still have old ones. I've got two on right now...one which my mother in law gave me on our 4th wedding anniversary more than six months ago and another one from songkhran...I've taken off several other ones...I only keep certain ones long term.

There are lots of reasons for wearing these strings. Two reasons for wearing the wedding one for so long (I think I hold some sort of unofficial record here) are 1. It made a clear and lasting statement that I took my marriage very seriously and intended it (the marriage) to last a long long time...and 2. It showed my mother in law that I took her involovement in my life seriously and that I valued it and wanted that to last for a long long time.

Edited July 10, 2006 by chownah

[jaya84]

Thank you very much everyone!!

im so glad i can get another one, there is no way id cut this one off!

im not generally a religious person, but there is definately something very special about buddhism!!

Thanks again for you help.

Jaya