Buddhist Lent

Many Buddhists say that Lent is the most important day of the year, and believe that by showing respect for their parents and Buddhist monks, they will accumulate good luck for the year ahead. Many people will wear traditional Thai dresses and will present packages of goods, usually including robes, food and candles to the monks at temples. At home, it is time for the people to pay respect to elderly persons,and relatives, it is time to ask for forgiveness, for what they have done something wrong to the elders, and they will forgive them all the things that they have done, and good things will come to them.

The tradition of Buddhist Lent is said to have begun when the Lord Buddha prohibited monks from travelling and staying overnight outside their temples during the rainy season to prevent them from stepping on rice, plants and animals. During the three months  of Lent, monks must observe a stricter lifestyle, praying and meditating. In the past the monks needed candles when they went to meditate, as there was no electricity. The light of a candle symbolizes the discovery of  the path to enlightenment, and it is a good time to study meditation at a monastery too.

คำศัพท์ที่น่าสนใจ
The Buddhist Lent   ฤดูเข้าพรรษา
to accumulate    สะสม
elderly persons    ญาติผู้ใหญ่=elders
robes    ผ้าห่มจีวร
to prohibit  สั่งห้ามไม่ให้ทำ
to meditate    สมาธิ/นั่งสมาธิ
to symbolize    เป็นสัญญาลักษณ์บอกถึง/เป็นเครื่องหมายบอกถึง
enlightenment    บรรลุนิพาน/ความสว่าง/ความจริง/รู้แจ้ง
monastery    อาราม/วัด