Thailand is a country that is truly immersed in Buddhism and the concept of “Merit making” or “Tum boon” (in Thai) is very much ingrained in the hearts and minds of nearly every Thai person. Tum boon is the act of performing good deeds, with the hope that one will reap the good results from the act performed. There are many ways Thai people perform “Tum Boon” and some of the most popular are:

• Providing alms (foods or goods) to the monks
• Donating money to build a monastery
• Ordaining as a monk
• Studying the Buddhist scriptures
• Observing the 5 or 8 precepts
• Going to temples and paying homage to the likeness of Buddha

Of all of these, I would say that the most popular and convenient way Thai people “Tum boon” is by providing alms to the monks, at least it is for me. As Buddhists, we Thais believe that the act of doing so will result in a prosperous and happy life now and in future lives. This is the reason that you’ll see monks in their saffron colored robes walking the streets in the early hours, as they are out on their daily alms round. How this works is that the lay people will go to a location where they know a monk would pass by, they then invite the monk to receive the offerings. The alms are then placed in the monk’s bowl and the monk will in turn chant a blessing and move on. Simple, right? 

Many people unfamiliar with Buddhism may ask why these bald headed men in yellow robes are treated so respectfully. Well, the reason for this is because these men have supposedly abandoned the normal or layman’s life to seek the highest goal, to purify their mind to the highest degree, that which is called “Enlightenment” or “Nirvana”. Since their sole focus is to reach nirvana, they don’t bother with the household activities which include cooking. They instead depend on the lay people for foods and go out begging for it (alms round) or “Tak Bart” just once a day, so as not to be so much of a burden to the people. It is believed that those who support the Sangha (council of monks) in such a way will gain much merits or “boon” from this act, which will make one prosperous and joyful in this lifetime, as well as allow one to be born in heaven in the after-life. This is the precise reason why so many faithful people (rich and poor) so wholeheartedly support the Sangha in such a way.

As a Thai and Buddhist myself, I would say that the act of giving and praying gives me a sense of hope. It feels liberating and calm, I guess it’s what they call the “joys of giving”. I would recommend it to anyone visiting Thailand to give it a try for a true Xperience of the Thai culture. You’ll give the monk quite a surprised to see a foreigner giving alms as well. Hey, when in Thailand, you gotta do as the Thais!  Peace and joy to all, may Buddha bless you!