We have had the opportunity to visit some temples here in Chiang Mai. At home we joke that there is a church and a bar on every corner, here there is a temple on just about every block. Some temples are open to the public, some are closed, for Buddhist worshipers only. We have been privy to go into some of these temples; they are beautiful and ornate, I am amazed by the intricacy put into building.
Monks are everywhere in the city, always walking never riding. Did you know that a monk cannot touch a woman, or receive a gift from a woman? If a woman wants to give them a gift she must hand it to a man and he can give it to the monk. If the monk does take from a woman or touches a woman he has to go through a seven year purification period.
My team had the opportunity to visit Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, a temple said to have originated from the 1300s. After a 300+ stair climb we reach the temple itself, where we had to pay to go into the temple itself. It was beautiful, but it was also sad. People bring gifts to the monks to pay for their sin, with no guarantee that they have been forgiven. Idols everywhere giving no promise of eternal life, elaborate decoration in attempt to praise one who gives nothing in return. There were boys dressed in all black who were "working" there, we found out they were adopted by the monks, but would never be able to become a monk, only work for them.
I had two prominent thoughts while going through Doi Suthep. The first was what would Buddha think if he knew people were being charged to come into this temple? What would he think about the fact a temple has become a tourist place where you can buy goods and souvenirs? I am reminded of Jesus in Mark when He went into the temple and began turning over the tables of merchants and money exchangers. He said
"It is written in the Scriptures, 'My house will be called a house for prayer for all people.' But you are changing God's house into a 'hiding place for thieves'" (11.15-17).
The other thought I had while watching people do their rituals and worship their idols, was checking my own spirit. How often are my prayers just rote? How often do I praise a specific way because that is the way I was taught. How often do we, as Christians, have rituals and idols. This has encouraged me to check my own spirit, I encourage you to check yours.
Extra Pics from our day 🙂
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