WATS UP 2

BUDDHA IMAGE CONSECRATION

In our village we have two temples Wat Salawat and Wat Buanak. At the latter a young monk Phra Taweepong Titayano (Phra James) has started an International Meditation Center. A focal point of this center is a Full Moon Meditation Garden. The garden is the site of a large white Buddha image which was constructed by artisans in Chiang Rai and then brought to the garden and consecrated in an impressive ceremony (ngaan bun) held in January, 2013.
After installation of the image it was necessary to have a religious ceremony  to consecrate the image. The actual ceremony was preceded by the volunteer work of many villagers and monks to prepare the necessary ceremonial items and offerings. 

VILLAGERS MAKING ITEMS FOR CEREMONY

                                       

DECORATING VEHICLE TO CARRY AUSPICIOUS ITEM

A small procession was organized and the ceremonial objects and "money trees" were 
brought to the garden in the evening. The following days events included a variety of 
traditional entertainments and the placing of the symbolic "heart and liver" inside 
the image. The days events included both sacred and secular elements. 
 
                                                                                    

MUSIC TO ACCOMPANY PROCESSION

                                                                             

"MONEY TREE" DONATION

                                                                              

SYMBOLIC BUDDHA HEART

                                                                                 

WELCOMING ARRIVAL OF PROCESSION

                                                                            

EVENING WELCOME DANCE

                                                                               

HOLE IN BACK SIDE OF BUDDHA IMAGE FOR RECEIVING "HEART"

                                                                           

BUDDHA IMAGE IN FULL MOON MEDITATION GARDEN

                                                                                 

OFFERINGS OF FRUITS AND FLOWERS

WELCOME DANCE

                                                                        

CONTAINERS OF DONATIONS FOR VISITING MONKS

                                                                                

DONATIONS INCLUDING FRAMED HAND PRINTS OF TEMPLE ABBOT

                                                                                  

VISITING MONKS

                                                                               

APPLYING GOLD LEAF TO BUDDHA "HEART"

                                                                             

ABBOT BLESSING HOLY OBJECT TO BE PLACED IN "HEART"

                                                                           

PLACING DONATED SACRED ITEMS INTO "HEART"

                                                                               

PHRA TAWEEPONG PLACING "LIVER" INTO BUDDHA IMAGE

                                                                             

DRUMS AND CONCH SHELLS USED DURING CEREMONY

                                                                                   

FLORAL AND FRUIT DONATION TABLE

                                                                                
                                                                           

PARTICIPANTS BEING BLESSED WITH WHITE MARK ON FOREHEAD

The ceremony to consecrate the Buddha  image was largely led by a secular adjarn or ceremonial specialist. Many of the procedures were accompanied by the drone of a 
large gong and the beat produced by small drums  overlain with the pulse of a conch 
shell horn. The large offering table was filled with a variety of fruits and flowers and 
other special offering items. Attendees were able to bring their own Buddha images 
or valuable precious or semi precious stones to be placed within the Buddha heart 
before it was placed on hooks inside the Buddha image. This was an extraordinary 
opportunity for villagers to make merit both by attending the ceremony and donating 
funds to help support the International Meditation Center. The Full Moon Meditation 
Garden is located adjacent to the Ngao River and is shaded by very old and large
trees and when completed will make an excellent venue for practicing Vipassana 
or insight meditation. Both short and longer duration meditation courses are open 
free to the public.