I was recently reunited with a long time friend from Khorat. Her name is Gai and she was the girlfriend of one of my best friends while we were in the Air Force and stat
ioned in Khorat from 1973-1974. We discovered that she had been living in Bangkok for some time and we were able to make contact with her. This is another story in itself. The reason I mention it is that she recommended that we go to a Temple and have a monk bless our car for continued good luck and safety. Sounded good to Phyllis and I. We made arrangements for Gai to meet us at our condo early in the morning and from there we left to pick up her girlfriend, Joy. We were headed to Chachoengsao to a temple there, Wat Sothon. It was ironical as we had been to Chachoengsao before, visiting friends and had also been to that specific temple. Chac
hoengsao is about a hour and half drive east of Bangkok. Joy had recommended this temple as it is well know for having newly purchased cars blessed by the monks that reside there. Arriving at the temple we parked the car in a designated area outside one of the outer buildings. From there we had to go and purchase several specially designed flower clusters that are hung from the rear view mirror, and also three small squares of golf leaf. These were taken back to the monk and were placed on a tray. When it was time I followed him out to the car. He had me turn the engine on and he sat behind the wheel and started his verbal blessings which were chants. I squatted by the open door and watched. When he was finished he took a small vessel that had what appeared to be grayish-white paste in it. He then used a small round wooden stick and be
gan inscribing Buddhist designs on the headliner between the two front seats just in front where the windshield is located. At various points he would stop and chant, then continue again. When he finished he took the three small squares of golf leaf and placed one each at the top of his designs so that the gold leaf formed a diamond. At this point I thought he might be finished but, not...he then took a small container of water and with a small whisk type object he began chanting again as he indoctrinated the interior of the car with quick whisks of water throughout. When he finished I thought that was it, but no...he then gets out of the car and proceeds to ordain the exterior of the car with whisks of water and chanting until he has walked completely around the car. Now...the car has completely inside and out been blessed. However, it wasn't over just yet. We followed him back inside and Phyllis and I, along with Gai and Joy, sat on the floor in front of him with our heads bowed to the floor while he chanted and whisked us all with water.
After which he passed us a small tray with four saffron colored bands of strings that had unique knotting in the middle. The ceremony was now concluded. Once outside it was explained to us that we were to tie the knotted saffron colored strings to one another's wrist where they were to remain for at least seven days. Now both us and the car had been blessed. May we always continue to have safe travels. We concluded the day by visiting the temple and then stopping by to see our friend Angelo who lives in Chachoengsao. Later before heading back to Bangkok we took Gai and Joy out to the golf course for a nice lunch. It turned out to be a very special day.
ioned in Khorat from 1973-1974. We discovered that she had been living in Bangkok for some time and we were able to make contact with her. This is another story in itself. The reason I mention it is that she recommended that we go to a Temple and have a monk bless our car for continued good luck and safety. Sounded good to Phyllis and I. We made arrangements for Gai to meet us at our condo early in the morning and from there we left to pick up her girlfriend, Joy. We were headed to Chachoengsao to a temple there, Wat Sothon. It was ironical as we had been to Chachoengsao before, visiting friends and had also been to that specific temple. Chac
hoengsao is about a hour and half drive east of Bangkok. Joy had recommended this temple as it is well know for having newly purchased cars blessed by the monks that reside there. Arriving at the temple we parked the car in a designated area outside one of the outer buildings. From there we had to go and purchase several specially designed flower clusters that are hung from the rear view mirror, and also three small squares of golf leaf. These were taken back to the monk and were placed on a tray. When it was time I followed him out to the car. He had me turn the engine on and he sat behind the wheel and started his verbal blessings which were chants. I squatted by the open door and watched. When he was finished he took a small vessel that had what appeared to be grayish-white paste in it. He then used a small round wooden stick and be
gan inscribing Buddhist designs on the headliner between the two front seats just in front where the windshield is located. At various points he would stop and chant, then continue again. When he finished he took the three small squares of golf leaf and placed one each at the top of his designs so that the gold leaf formed a diamond. At this point I thought he might be finished but, not...he then took a small container of water and with a small whisk type object he began chanting again as he indoctrinated the interior of the car with quick whisks of water throughout. When he finished I thought that was it, but no...he then gets out of the car and proceeds to ordain the exterior of the car with whisks of water and chanting until he has walked completely around the car. Now...the car has completely inside and out been blessed. However, it wasn't over just yet. We followed him back inside and Phyllis and I, along with Gai and Joy, sat on the floor in front of him with our heads bowed to the floor while he chanted and whisked us all with water. 
After which he passed us a small tray with four saffron colored bands of strings that had unique knotting in the middle. The ceremony was now concluded. Once outside it was explained to us that we were to tie the knotted saffron colored strings to one another's wrist where they were to remain for at least seven days. Now both us and the car had been blessed. May we always continue to have safe travels. We concluded the day by visiting the temple and then stopping by to see our friend Angelo who lives in Chachoengsao. Later before heading back to Bangkok we took Gai and Joy out to the golf course for a nice lunch. It turned out to be a very special day.
1 comment:
Thank God you've been blessed! I haven't seen a Honda Jazz here in the states. Do they go by a different name. Also, received by email the pic of your new residence? It looks perfect as long as there's an elevator. (For us, not you!)
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