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Guide to Buddhist Temples on Koh Samui,Thailand

By Joe Samui

Buddhist Temples

Thailand is a predominantly Buddhist country, with well over 90% of all Thais following the Theravada school of thought. A visit to a Buddhist Temple, or Wat, will provide a glimpse into the ways of life for millions of Thais and South East Asians. Buddhism is a way of life for Thais, with many Thai men serving as dek wat or "children of the Temple" from as young as 8 years old, and in many cases this time in the Temple will be the extent of the young persons education and formal schooling.

Typically joining a Temple for the duration of a rainy season, a young man becomes ordained into the Buddhist faith and serves anywhere from 1-3 years, officiating at religious ceremonies, marriages and ground-breaking ceremonies to name a few. It is also during this time that the Monk will undergo more extensive schooling and training for life outside the Temple.

Becoming a Monk in Thailand is not a life long pursuit as it is most commonly thought of Monks in the West. A Thai man who has served his Temple and village is free to re-join the village in any occupation he chooses and is thought to be a better prospect for marriage and professional pursuits. It is not uncommon for a Thai man to rejoin the Temple at some point during his life,for merit-making or accumulating good deeds. This merit is accumulated and any surplus merit is carried forward to the next birth or it can be applied to someone elses account, in the case of a deceased loved one who may have accumulated a net negative and needs merit assistance.

If you are curious about Buddhism or simply fascinated by the beautiful and ornate Temples that dot the Asian landscapes, a visit to a local Temple or two can give a western traveller a powerful insight into the daily life of the Thai people.

On Koh Samui, there are a number of Temples to visit including Wat Plai Laem, Wat Phra Yai (the very famous and photogenic Big Buddha as it is more commonly known), Wat Kiri Wongkaram and Wat Bophut to name but a few. Your Temple visit will be even more memorable if you happen to be visiting at a time when a Temple Fair is taking place. Temple Fairs are the Thai version of a village market, with dozens of locals hawking everything from shoes to cd's and fried grasshoppers.

Koh Samui may be famous for its beaches and nightlife but the memories you take home from its Temples will last a lifetime, and possibly a re-birth.

Thank you for this concise but educational intel. Are the temples bona fide tourist destinations? Do they even welcome tourists? I am not sure that I would want to intrude on a place of worship, aloha shirt and sunburn and dangling cameras and all. I imagine a Buddhist temple to be a haven of solemnity and quiet, except during the Temple Fair mentioned, or the water festival, etc.

Nick, they are legitimate tourist destinations and welcome donations which in many cases are used directly in furthering the growth and status of that Temple. For example, in almost any of the temples that you visit, you can literally "buy a brick" which ultimately gets placed in construction of a new building which may house the monks or village children, etc. Open minded tourists are always welcomed however in Thailand, it is strongly advised that women cover their shoulders, elbows and knees before entering, and any time a farang woman is in the Temple she should avoid any contact whatsoever with a monk. If she wishes to make a monetary donation to the temple, she should hand it to her male companion first for him to hand to the monk.

Thai women go to the Temple for many reasons, including the hope for good luck in finding a man, good health for their baby etc. Most large grocery stores here carry a full line of Temple offerings which come in buckets and include food,toiletries, first aid supplies etc and Thai women in particular take these to the Temple, the bigger the bucket the better your luck. Thai buddhists in particular believe that what you donate to the Temple will come back to you ten times over.

Don't miss a Temple tour if you are in Thailand, the incense, statues and silent prayers combined with sometimes very elegant and ornate surroundings makes for a very spiritual and sometimes surreal experience. If you've been partying it up on the islands a bit too much it is a great opportunity to do a bit of merit-making on your own as well.

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