Temple manners for visitors to Thailand

Here is a short video with some "do's" (what you should do) and "don'ts" (what you shouldn't do) when you visit a Thai Buddhist temple. Would you add anything to the list?

Please join us on our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/bangkokpostlearning

Temple manners for visitors to Thailand

Here at the Bangkok Post, we have a new team producing videos for us. They are very good, very experienced and, best of all, they know how to show off Thailand (in a good way) to the rest of the world.

Here is a short video designed to help visitors to Thailand when they visit a Thai temple. There is a long list of "do's" (what you should do) and some "don'ts" (what you shouldn't do) when you visit a Thai Buddhist temple.

What do you think? Are the suggestions good? Is there anything missing? Let us know on our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/bangkokpostlearning

You should be able to understand most of this video without help, but I have made a transcript for you so you can see exactly what was said.

When entering a Buddhist temple, someone's home and even some shops, you should leave your shoes at the door.

Thai temples have sacred areas and a few rules of etiquette should be followed.

Remove hats, sunglasses and shoes when entering the worship area. Step over the wooden threshold to the temple rather than on top of it. Don't get in the way of local people who are actually there to worship. Don't touch sacred objects in the worship area.

Always you your right hand when giving or receiving something from a monk. When ready to leave don't raise yourself higher than the Buddha statue and do not turn you back to it. Back away instead.

Dress modestly. Both men and women should not wear sleeveless tops and your shorts and pants should cover your knees. In addition, women may never touch a monk or his robes.

Vocabulary

  • etiquette: a set of rules about behaviour for people in a particular profession - มารยาท, ธรรมเนียมปฏิบัติ
  • experienced (adj): having knowledge as a result of doing something for a long time, or having had a lot of different experiences - ซึ่งมีประสบการณ์, ชำนาญ
  • local: in or related to the area that you live, or to the particular area that you are talking about - ท้องถิ่น
  • modestly (adv): not showing much of the body; not attracting attention - อย่างเรียบร้อย, อย่างสุภาพ, โดยพอประมาณ
  • robe: a long loose outer piece of clothing - เสื้อคลุมยาว
  • sacred: considered to be holy - ศักดิ์สิทธิ์
  • show off (verb): to show people somebody/something that you are proud of - อวด
  • sleeveless (adj): (of a shirt or coat) having no sleeves - ไม่มีแขนเสื้อ
  • statue: a human or animal image that is made of stone, wood, metal, etc. - รูปปั้น
  • suggestion: an idea or a plan that you mention for somebody else to think about - ข้อเสนอ, ข้อเสนอแนะ
  • threshold (noun): the floor or ground at the bottom of a doorway, considered as the entrance to a building or room - ธรณีประตู, ทางเข้า
  • touch (verb): to put your hands and fingers on something - สัมผัส
  • transcript: a written or printed copy of words that have been spoken - บันทึก
  • worship (noun): the practice of showing respect for God or a god, by saying prayers, singing with others, etc; a ceremony for this - พิธีสักการะบูชา, พิธีกราบไหว้, พิธีบวงสรวง
  • worship: to feel or show respect and love for a god - สักการะ

Do you like the content of this article?
COMMENT
MORE IN SECTION