A Brief Overview Of Buddhist Weddings In Thailand
For many people, the religious ceremony is an important part of the wedding. Yearly, thousands of people from different corners of the world get a traditional Buddhist wedding in Thailand. Today, Buddhism is widely spread across Asia and it is considered to be both a religion and a philosophy, given the tolerant and open-minded nature of this faith.
The couple will be invited for a rehearsal a couple of days before the ceremony. There are two main parts involved in the ceremony, and here you will find out more about the Buddhist wedding and what this ceremony involves:
1. The General Ceremony
The Buddhist wedding involves at least five monks that will perform the ceremony - the monks will pray and chant, they will light candles and burn incenses that will purify the air and create a serene, peaceful environment filled with love and respect. The couple kneels in front of the monk and wait for the blessing.
2. The Water Blessing
The Water Blessing is one of the most important parts of the ceremony, where every spouse will receive the individual blessing. This is performed by one of the monks, who will gently pour holy water over the hands of the couple.
Planning A Buddhist Wedding In Thailand
The wedding is undoubtedly one of the most important events in a person's life, this is why it requires thorough planning - especially if you want to do it in a foreign country such as Thailand. Basically, this wedding should go just like any other similar ceremony, the sole difference is that the process will be slightly different. Here are some of the most important aspects you need to consider:
1. Choosing The Date And Sending The Wedding Invitations
The Buddhist belief relies strongly on the star alignment, this is why couples who want to get married in Thailand should consult an astrologer and see whether the stars are compatible. It is believed that the stars should be properly aligned for the marriage to be prosperous and happy. Not only the date of the wedding, but the time when the ceremony starts is important as well. Punctuality plays a pivotal role!
2. Understanding The Importance Of Merit
The merit is a strong concept in both Buddhism and Hinduism, and it refers to good deeds which contribute to one's spiritual liberation. There are many ways in which a couple can make merit: the merit can be either gained or transferred. The Buddhist monks, for instance, earn the merit through meditation, chanting, mindfulness and a wealth of other rituals.
It is important for the future spouses to make merit in order to honor their communion, and this can be done in several different ways: instructing other people in the Teachings, being thankful for other people's good deeds, offering service, making good deeds and involving others or simply granting an animal its freedom.
3. The Buddhist Blessing
The good news about Buddhist ceremonies is that you do not need to be Buddhist to take part in the ceremony and to receive the blessing - basically, this is a non-religious affair that will not grant any legal status. The tradition said that the wedding couple and their families must offer food to the monks, and the guests are not allowed to eat until the monks finish eating. After that, the monks will chant and the couple will receive the Buddhist blessing.
The couple will be invited for a rehearsal a couple of days before the ceremony. There are two main parts involved in the ceremony, and here you will find out more about the Buddhist wedding and what this ceremony involves:
1. The General Ceremony
The Buddhist wedding involves at least five monks that will perform the ceremony - the monks will pray and chant, they will light candles and burn incenses that will purify the air and create a serene, peaceful environment filled with love and respect. The couple kneels in front of the monk and wait for the blessing.
2. The Water Blessing
The Water Blessing is one of the most important parts of the ceremony, where every spouse will receive the individual blessing. This is performed by one of the monks, who will gently pour holy water over the hands of the couple.
Planning A Buddhist Wedding In Thailand
The wedding is undoubtedly one of the most important events in a person's life, this is why it requires thorough planning - especially if you want to do it in a foreign country such as Thailand. Basically, this wedding should go just like any other similar ceremony, the sole difference is that the process will be slightly different. Here are some of the most important aspects you need to consider:
1. Choosing The Date And Sending The Wedding Invitations
The Buddhist belief relies strongly on the star alignment, this is why couples who want to get married in Thailand should consult an astrologer and see whether the stars are compatible. It is believed that the stars should be properly aligned for the marriage to be prosperous and happy. Not only the date of the wedding, but the time when the ceremony starts is important as well. Punctuality plays a pivotal role!
2. Understanding The Importance Of Merit
The merit is a strong concept in both Buddhism and Hinduism, and it refers to good deeds which contribute to one's spiritual liberation. There are many ways in which a couple can make merit: the merit can be either gained or transferred. The Buddhist monks, for instance, earn the merit through meditation, chanting, mindfulness and a wealth of other rituals.
It is important for the future spouses to make merit in order to honor their communion, and this can be done in several different ways: instructing other people in the Teachings, being thankful for other people's good deeds, offering service, making good deeds and involving others or simply granting an animal its freedom.
3. The Buddhist Blessing
The good news about Buddhist ceremonies is that you do not need to be Buddhist to take part in the ceremony and to receive the blessing - basically, this is a non-religious affair that will not grant any legal status. The tradition said that the wedding couple and their families must offer food to the monks, and the guests are not allowed to eat until the monks finish eating. After that, the monks will chant and the couple will receive the Buddhist blessing.
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