Praying for blessings on the Festival of Ten Thousand Buddhas: The Buddha's light shines brightly at Wat Hua Lamphong in Bangkok

Wat Hua Lamphong is a newly popular landmark in Bangkok for social media check-ins. It is a large Buddhist architectural complex. Before entering the temple, one must pass through a very old residential area, walking through a narrow alleyway, and then a gigantic Buddha statue appears close at hand, known as the Great Buddha of Wat Hua Lamphong. The Buddha is seated in a lotus position with crossed legs, hands stacked in front of the belly, palms facing up, in a meditative gesture. The Buddha, with a gentle nod and lowered brows, exudes an aura of dignity, overlooking all beings with a heart full of great compassion and benevolence. Due to the immense height and size of the Buddha statue, which is covered in shining gold, it provides a powerful spiritual shock and visual impact. Coincidentally, today is the Festival of Ten Thousand Buddhas, a traditional Buddhist festival in Thailand, held on the 15th day of the third month of the Thai lunar calendar. On this day, Wat Hua Lamphong hosts charitable organizations that distribute free toast, coffee, and milk tea within the temple. They taste quite good! Additionally, one can witness monks performing acts of kindness and listen to sermons and chanting in the early morning. Besides admiring the Great Buddha, we also visited the Buddha hall in front of it and the stupa behind it. The highest level features a jade crystal stupa that radiates a soft green light, enshrining the Buddha's relics, which is very sacred and solemn. To truly appreciate the unique charm of Thai Buddhist culture, one must immerse oneself in the experience and learn from it, rather than just checking in for the sake of it. Only then can one have a deeper reflection on life and the world.