Nation celebrates Children’s Day today

[rooster59]

Nation celebrates Children’s Day today

BANGKOK: The country today celebrated the Children's Day with the prime minister officially opening the celebration of this significant day at the lawn in front of Government House.

During the joyful celebration at Government House where thousands of parents bringing their children to visit and enjoy the Jurassic park-like playground at Government House, Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha also showed his Thai boxing art skill by performing a Muay Thai boxing style with a vocational student amid eyes of children and parents.

The lawn attracted children as it was turned a theme park where several movable life-size sculptures or models of prehistoric animals, especially dinosaurs are displayed for children to play and ride.

Meanwhile Don Mueang’s Sixth Wing airbase is also a favourite attraction of children when the Royal Thai Air Force performed an air show for children to watch, and also displayed its jet fighters and other models of planes for children to see and experience.

But a Buddist temple near Bangkok has even more surprising tactics to attract children to temple instead to amusement park.

Wat Takian temple in Bang Kruay district inNonthaburi province just outside of Bangkok has installed a number of large figurines that are replicas of famous comic characters throughout its grounds.

The abbot came up with the idea to bring in these various models and have them installed within the temple’s grounds with the hopes of inducing more children to the temple.

One of the models is the replica of a famous super-hero character from the Transformer movie.

It is very popular both among young children and adults alike and is placed in a prominent location in the temple. Its upper chest is made from the front console of an automobile while its limbs were constructed from scrap automobile parts.

Alongside it are the famous ‘Bumble-Bee’ and‘Optimus Prime’ the 2 lead characters from the blockbuster movie.

There are movable wheels on their arms and its lower legs are made up from a combination of automobile shock-absorbers and drive shafts. All have been beautifully painted and are prime targets for camera’s shutters and mobile phone cameras.

This zone has altogether 8 figurines and is also adorned with a life-sized replica of a chopper motorcycle that is so realistic that all who pass by cannot resist mounting it to take pictures.

Abbot Phra Khru S’mu Sa-ngop Kittiyanno said he bought the figurines from a shop inAyutthaya province.

The biggest one which is 6 meters tall cost 500,000 Baht. The money for purchasing these models came from donations which the abbot decided to put to good use to attract young children and families to the temple.

Families coming to the temple can be assured that their children will have a good time while at the same time allow young children to absorb Buddhist culture. The abbot believes that family bonds will be strengthened when all members of a family make merit and join inBuddhist practice.

Also proving equally popular are replicas of famous characters from classical literature.

There is also a replica of a Naga serpent who peculiarly is wearing a modern wrist-watchwhile being surrounded by a gang of 4 dogs. The abbot says this is a representation of the ills of gambling.

The abbot said that all the models and figurines were constructed under creative themes that more often than not reflect the harsh reality of a modern materialistic existence.

“A person who everyone else considers useless can become a constructive individual given the opportunity and faith afforded by a strong religious belief.”

He want to see more and more people, especially modern families, entering temples to ensure that their children and future generations are imbued with a strong religious faith from a young age.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/nation-celebrates-childrens-day-today

-- Thai PBS 2016-01-09

[JOC]

>>The abbot said that all the models and figurines were constructed under creative themes that more often than not reflect the harsh reality of a modern materialistic existence.<< Quote

Said by an abbot, who had just spent 500.000 baht to buy one figurine !!

Sure those money could have been better spent..........................

[clockman]

Another example of Thainess!

[clockman]

>>The abbot said that all the models and figurines were constructed under creative themes that more often than not reflect the harsh reality of a modern materialistic existence.<< Quote

Said by an abbot, who had just spent 500.000 baht to buy one figurine !!

Sure those money could have been better spent..........................

Meanwhile a million people still do not have the luxury, of electricity!

[JAG]

Government House, Jurassic Park, dinosaurs all over the place, stop it please, it's beginning to hurt!

[thesetat2013]

Sad to say but if they want kids to go see things at an army base then they should make an Army day. If the temples wanted to instill the values of Buddhism then they should make a special day as well. A kids day should be a day when the kids can go out and see and do things never before seen and done. Not forced into army camps or temples. Parks and festivals with rides and amusements and characters from their favorite shows instead of the ones mentioned here to instill values that a kid hears and preaches every day now at school thanks to P. My wife suggested I take our daughters to the base to look at tanks. I told her she could go their any day of the week and see them if she liked. Today should not be called children's day! It should be called army day or learning P's values day. So today I took my kids to a water park for their 1st time ever.

[JOC]

Buddha's Nagas

According to the Vinaya or Buddhist Monastic Rule, an animal cannot become a monk. At one time, a Naga was so desirous of entering the Order that he assumed human form in order to be ordained.

"Shortly after, when asleep in his hut, the naga returned to the shape of a huge snake. The monk who shared the hut was somewhat alarmed when he woke up to see a great snake sleeping next to him! The Lord Buddha summoned the naga and told him he may not remain as a monk, at which the utterly disconsolate snake began to weep. The snake was given the Five Precepts as the means to attaining a human existence in his next life when he can then be a monk. Then out of compassion for the sad snake, the Lord Buddha said that from then on all candidates for the monkhood be called 'Naga' as a consolation. They are still called 'Naga' to this day."

How the abbot can turn that in to a warning against gambling, just proves how little the holy brothers know about the faith, they are using to keep the cash flow going!!

[deckape]

Also proving equally popular are replicas of famous characters from classical literature.

Khun Pah, is that Jay Gatsby or Tom Buchannon?

[nong38]

A day when everyone is a child who wants to grow up!

[vadid]

Having lived in Thailand for several years I have yet to work out precisely which day in the year is not Children's Day.