“Father forgive them, for they know not what they do” Luke 23:34
94% of people in Thailand are Buddhist.
We walk between the two giant guards and enter the first temple. The first thing I notice is the golden Buddha statues lining the walls. Looking closer, I see there are plaques, some with pictures underneath, all with inscriptions I can’t read. I ask Ja, our translator and guide for the day, what the plaques are for. They are put there by the family members of people who have passed away in hopes of gaining more favor for them.
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Dear Lord, please open their eyes. Let them turn from their wicked ways, help them turn their eyes towards you.
Small statues run along the perimeter of the courtyard. “What are these?” They’re depictions of the many different Chinese gods. Somewhere in the distance there is the faint hum of men chanting. The aroma of incense fills my nostrils and the candle wax runs down.
We move into the temple and I’m taken back. There’s an alter, built up of golden Buddha statues, all different sizes. Wrapped gifts are placed between ivory horns at the base of the alter. The Old Testament comes to life before my eyes as a man comes and bows. On his knees he worships man-made idols.
People bow three times and give offerings of a couple flowers, three candles and three incense sticks. By doing this they are declaring that the Buddha, the Teaching, and the Order (the monkhood) are their refuge.
“I will say of the Lord,
“He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Psalm 91:2
We leave and head towards Wat Po- Temple of the Reclining Buddha. Pictures do not do justice to how huge this Buddha is.
The main feature of Wat Po is the 46 meter long reclining Buddha, which depicts the Buddha passing into nirvana. The soles of the feet are adorned with the 108 auspicious attributes of the Buddha in mother-of-pearl inlay.
As we enter the temple, the Buddha towers above me. I can’t even fit into a picture with it. People are kneeling down, praying, worshipping. I walk along the length of the statue and it’s easy to see how they can be so enthralled. Buddha looks like he’s lounging around, so content, so at peace.
Lord, save them! Don’t they know that they are bowing to nothing? Don’t they see that Buddha can’t answer their prayers? Don’t they know that they will never be good enough? God, show them that Jesus is the only way!
“But their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of man. They have mouths but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see; they have ears but cannot hear, noses, but they cannot smell; they have hands, but cannot feel, feel but they cannot walk; nor can they utter a sound with their throats. Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them.” Psalm 115:2-8
As I walk around the corner, pasts the soles of Buddha’s feet, I see a row of pots along the wall. A woman drops a few coins into one of the pots before continuing on.
As well as giving offerings of flowers, candles and incense and wying the Buddha, you will see people putting small coins into a row of bowls. This is a way of ‘making merit’ by giving donations to the temple.
We gather together again and go to the last temple for the day. After climbing 318 steps, I look out over Bangkok. I’m overwhelmed with sorrow for these people.
It is often said, “To be Thai is to be Buddhist.” I have a new understanding of their religion and culture and it makes me want to cry. How desperately they need God here. And so I pray. I pray to God, creator of heaven and earth, ruler of everything, lover of lost souls. And then I praise Him for who he is and what he’s doing in Thailand.
“Let everything that has breath praise the Lord” Psalm 150:6
