Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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Merit-Making
Thais visit temples for spiritual enlightenment as well as cultural entertainment. Pilgrim-
ages to famous temples are an important feature of domestic tourism. During these visits,
merit-making is an individual ritual rather than a congregational affair. Worshippers buy
offerings such as lotus buds, incense and candles and present these symbolic gifts to the
temple's primary Buddha image. Other merit-making activities include offering food to
the temple
sangha
, meditating (individually or in groups), listening to monks chanting
suttas
(Buddhist discourse), and attending a
têht
or
dhamma
talk by the abbot or another
respected teacher. Though Thailand is increasingly secular, merit-making remains an im-
portant cultural activity often linked to wish fulfilment (finding love or academic success)
rather than religious devotion.
