More than 200 monks made a pilgrimage through Pattaya to turn “an abandoned temple into a glorious temple” in Chonburi Province.
Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome and the heads of the Chonburi and Banglamung monk committee’s kicked off the Oct. 19 “Thudong Chaipattana” project at city hall, co-sponsored by the Association of Meditation for World Moral Development in Chonburi.
The project was aimed at encouraging Buddhists to restore the “soul” of Lum Manao Temple in Bothong, which according to organizers is devoid of Buddha’s spirit. They want to install Buddhist beliefs and practices back into the temple. Activities were held there Oct. 20-23 aimed at doing just that.
Over 200 monks begin their pilgrimage through Pattaya to restore the “soul” of Lum Manao Temple in Bothong, which according to organizers is devoid of Buddha’s spirit.
The campaign began with the pilgrimage by 220 monks and novices of the affluent Dhammakaya sect outside Bangkok, who were mirrored nationwide by more than 100,000 others.
Opening ceremonies began at 7 a.m. with Dhammakaya prayers and, at 8:25, the pilgrims participated in a “shower of manifold” ceremony before heading out on a four-kilometer walk down Beach Road to Bali Hai Pier.
Buddhists lined the route, offering alms of dried foods and sweets to the monks along the way. The monks and novices then boarded buses to Lum Manao Temple.
