Ayutthaya, Thailand Oct.27, 2013
World Heritage site, Buddhas and Doraemon
I came to Bangkok again to attend a business meeting at Phuket, Thailand. I am staying at Courtyard Bangkok on the weekend before going to Phuket beach for a business meeting. I planed to visit Jim Thompson’s house and Ayutthaya. Ayutthaya is a riverside city located approximately 80km north of Bangkok. The city thrived as the seat of the Ayutthaya Dynasty from the 14th century until the 18th century. All inhabitants left the city when Burmese invaded and burned to the ground in 1767. Now the area of the ruins of the city called Ayutthaya Historical Park is registered as a world heritage site. I joined the half day tour by Panda Bus tour. I headed to the gathering point of the tour near Intercontinental Hotel near MRT Chi Rom. I killed some time at a souvenir shop called Narai Phand in President Tower near the hotel till the meeting time. The shop is operated by the government, displays a wide variety of souvenir items in a large floor. I went to Ayutthaya by the operator’s bus in the afternoon. The tour includes Elephant riding at the park. However, I passed it cause I did not like to ride on an elephant. We walked to the ruins after the riding. I found a stone in the shape of buddha’s head in the banyan tree roots. That is the famous place everyone knows. I walked around the park alone and saw the ruins of temples, pagodas, Buddha statues etc. I imagined the place when those building were standing and people were living. All of sudden I had a strong sense of loneliness about the fact everything shall fall into decay someday.
After the park, the guided tour took us to Wat yai chai mongkhon, where a famous reclining Buddha of some 30meters long is located. The location is also known for Than Por Sitthichai shrine, or a Doraemon shrine, a Robotic cat cartoon character. People place the cat dolls as offerings. The shrine was built in memory of an unborn prince who died when his mother, Sunandha Kumariratana, one of King Rama V’s consorts, was involved in a boating accident in 1880. Many locals pray at the shrine. They lay down toys and children’s clothing as offerings when their wishes were fulfilled. Later, stuffed Doraemon dolls were offered by the people, whose prayers were answered, believing that the prince’s spirit would be pleased with the popular Japanese cartoon character just as Thai children are.
I saw people chat with monks at various places. Maybe they are asking them for advice about their troubles. Or making small talk. I have seen the similar scenes like this during my stay. I felt Buddhism are very close to them in their daily life. In Thailand, men become a Buddhist priest for a few month once in a life. They believe they can make good deeds by doing this. They shave their heads, stay in a temple and adhere strictly to Buddhist rules. Men can be treated as a matured adult man after the stint. Maybe it could be a rite of passage for their society. Many of us are considered to be a Buddhist. However, those who think Buddhist would not do this. I learned at the high school that Thai and many in Southeast Asia believe Hinayama Buddhism or Small vehicle teachings of the Buddhas, which stresses individual salvation through self-discipline. Majority of Japanese Buddhism belongs to Manayama school or Great vehicle teachings which seeks enlightenment for the sake of all beings. In short, we believe in the teachings of different school. I am not a Buddhist. I only think that is great to have something to believe for better life.