The Temple Was Empty - But for the Abbot

We went to visit the monks today and found that most had made the long drive to Alabama to celebrate the Kathin Ceremony. We will celebrate this same ceremony next Sunday. Only the Abbot remained in the Wat today. It was a little chilly in Augusta (about 68 or 70 degrees F) and the Abbot was cold. Can you tell from the photo? He was inside and wearing his ski cap. Of course his head is shaved so he doesn't have any hair to keep his head warm. One person showed up besides us. She also thought that all of the monks would be there and made lots of food. John and I brought fresh strawberries, raspberries and blueberries. We ate rice (steamed and sticky), baked catfish, Chinese bean cakes, fresh mint, fish sauce, etc.

Next week will be a very large group. There will be food, Thai dancing, and celebration. Ten monks and hundreds of people are expected to celebrate the Kathin Ceremony. People and monks will come from Atlanta, Florida, South Carolina and I don't know where else. The ceremony occurs at the end of the rainy season is Thailand - this marks the end of Buddhist Lent. At this time monks throughout the country receive new robes in an annual presentation ceremony - "Kathin". The timing of the ceremony is based on the cycle of the moon but it falls in the months of October - November.

During Lord Buddha's lifetime, thrifty orthodox monks from the city of Patha, walked to the city of Sravatthi to meet the Lord. It was before reaching Patha that the Buddhist Lent started. All the monks had to stay in the monastery for three months. At the end of the Lent, the monks set out on foot to Lord Buddha's place in spite of the rain. The path they took was muddy due to incessant rains. Their robes were drenched in water and grime. The Lord, realizing the difficulty of his disciples, granted permission to accept a new robe at the end of the Lent each year.

Besides new robes, the laity present monks with Buddhist literature, kitchen equipment, financial contributions, building materials. In a word, anything deemed necessary for the monks' upkeep during the monastic year.

Kathins are generally preceded by a village festival just outside the monastery grounds - perhaps on the village school grounds. On the eve of the Kathin, shortly after sunset, village monks seat themselves beneath a canopy at one end of the grounds. As the monks chant religious stanzas, villagers and visitors are free to donate money for the temple upkeep. They also sample various shows and entertainment among themselves.

The above description is from "Thai customs and Beliefs" issued by the Office of the National Culture Commission, Ministry of Education Thailand.