สำนักราชบัณฑิตยสภา

«“√ “√ √“™∫— ≥±‘ µ¬ ∂“π ªï ∑’Ë Û ©∫— ∫∑’Ë Û °.§.-°.¬. ÚıÙ¯ 739 Lertsiri Bovornkitti mation process as part of traditional life. Buddhist cremation sends off the spirit of the dead in peace, an im- portant end to life on earth. Consequently, the majority of older people are now more actively involved in Buddhist practices. They visit temples more often than the young, because the temple is a spir- itual place, a place for protecting the spirit until its time on earth ends. Older people assist monks in many ways, especially in organising temple festivals (see figure 3) and praying together. Older folk also take their children and grandchildren with them to visit temples and therefore introduce them to Buddhist tradi- tions. Buddhist festivals and activities help in bringing different generations together in an unending cycle of practice. An ordination ceremony normally brings together a large number of people: family, relatives and friends. In modern Thai culture, it is still widely believed that, after 20, a Thai man should join a monas- tery as a monk for a period of at least one month (see figure 4). It has been a custom that Thai laymen become ordained at least once in their life- time as a way of making merit on behalf of their parents. It is believed that through such a practice, the par- ents who see yellow robes will reach heaven after death. Anyone who has undergone the process of ordination realises a great sense of spiritual feel- ing and enters totally into another spiritual dimension. By contrast, Thai laywomen Figure 3 During the Thai New Year festival on 13 April each year, people gather together at temples to make merit through activities such as offering alms and listening to monks preach. People shower water over the Buddha statue. Then they enjoy throwing water at each other at this festival known as the songkran or the Water Festival. Figure 4 An ordination ceremony for new monks in an ubosot (chapel).