DHAMMAYATRA '17 (PART VIII): SHORT VISIT TO THE CITY OF NINE GEMS

At the Suvarnabhumi Airport and before boarding the bus to the Bangkok Palace Hotel for our transit stay, Bro. Tan explained to us that this city has the longest name and is recorded in the Guinness Book of Records. Initially, I was surprised and wondered how come the word "Bangkok" can be the longest name? Well, actually "Bangkok" is the city's English name. It's ceremonial name, which is known to the locals is "Krungthepmahanakhon amonrattanakosin mahintharayutthaya mahadilokphop noppharatratchathaniburirom udomratchaniwetmahasathan amonphimanawatansathit aakkathattiyawitsanukamprasit," which means "City of angels, great city of immortals, magnificent city of the nine gems, seat of the king, city of royal palaces, home of gods incarnate, erected by Vishvakarman at Indra's behest." Well, indeed it's very very long to be remembered. So, it usually being called "Krungthep" instead of it's longer version. That's quite interesting though.

Wat Saket

The next morning, after our breakfast, we checked out from the hotel and visited Wat Saket, the Temple of Golden Mount. A portion of the Buddha relics unearthed back at Piprahwa was enshrined here. It is also known as "Chedi Phukhao Thong" to the locals, which means the "Buddhist Tower of the Phukhao Thong Village." Here, the main shrine hall are surrounded by the sima stone foundations. And we could also understood from Bro. Tan that all Thai temples have a common, significant roof architecture of Garudas and Nagas in it. There was a legend where the Garuda and Naga are nemesis to each other. However, in the presence of the Blessed One, both of them were able to interact harmoniously. There's a saying where in Thai tradition, every Thai young man will have to novitiate as a monk upon achieving the age 18.

Wat Arun

Next, we boarded a boat at the Chao Phraya River and went to a fish-feeding spot before proceeding to Wat Arun. Some of the residence here are only accessible via river boat. However, due to inconvenience today, some of the residence were abandoned. There are also floating markets every morning around the riverside according to the tour guide. Then, we visited Wat Arun, also known as the "Temple of the Dawn". The temple is only accessible via Chao Phraya River Boat. During some royal occasions such as the coronation of the New King, the Royal Bath will be held along the river, where the Chao Phraya River and Wat Arun will be inaccessible to the outsiders. The architecture of Wat Arun is somewhat unique where it was mostly made up of porcelain with heavy elements of Hindu-Buddhism. 

At Wat Arun, Bro Tan reminded us that despite the changes of era from conventional to modern, the law of kamma still operates, no one can ever escape of it. Despite having so many decades to go, we're still inexperienced, making us ignorant of many things. We shouldn't feel superior, conceited or proud as these are the causes of downfall. We're in fact still unknown to the subtle real conditions that brought us here. That's why, kalyana mitta is important in bringing the best and wholesome out of us as well as serving as a fuel in sustaining our Dhamma practise. Kalyana mitta is not just an ordinary good friend. He is a wise friend with good vijja-carana (knowledge & conduct) who'll encourage us to live in accordance to the Dhamma and remind us when we are off-track from the Dhamma practise. Hence, Bro Tan reminded us not to find kalyana mittas just by their look, but by their quality of wisdom.

We boarded the plane back to Kuala Lumpur at 2:30pm while bidding farewell to Bro Tan as he'll be staying back in Bangkok for a few days. We touched down safely at 8:30pm in KLIA. With this Dhammayatra journey has ended, there marks the beginning of my life Dhammayatra, a life with self-transformation, cultivation of wholesomeness and wholesome aspirations.

Idam vo puññam asavakkhaya'vaham hotu
Idam vo puññam nibbanassa pacayo hotu
Idam vo ñatinam hotu sukhita hontu ñatayo
Imam no puñña bhagam sabbasattanam dema
Idam vo puññam Buddhasasanam ciram titthātu

May this merit lead us to the eradication of suffering
May this merit lead us to Nibbana
May this merit be share with our departed relatives and may they be happy
May this merit be shared with all beings
With this merit, may the Buddha-sasana long endure

My life journey of Dhammayatra shall continue until deathlessness is achieved!