Keep to the Rules when Visiting Thai Temples
A female teacher from the UK trying to touch a monk
19 min ago
Parts of the Body have a Hierarchy
We’ve seen the influence of feudalism in Thailand. There is a hierarchy in parts of the body as well. The head, with a brain and thinking capacity, is at the top; the foot, being nearest the ground and in contact with the soil, is at the bottom.
Thais refrain from touching the head and ensure feet are not pointed towards monks, Buddha images, or indeed at other people. Shoes are not placed on furniture or at a high level. Thais will not walk under a washing line if it has undergarments hanging on it.
A teacher forgetting the “no touch” rule in Thai temples
We visited a temple with Jenny, taking off our shoes before entering, and started chatting to a monk. The bot was the only building she could not enter. Women are not allowed in that most sacred area of the wat where the final part of the monks’ ordination takes place. I showed her some photos of Thai bots later.
Jenny is a retired teacher and was chatting to a monk about education in temples. “As a fellow teacher, may I shake your hand,” she asked. “As a monk, I cannot touch a woman,” was the reply. Jenny made a deep and respectful wai. She had been careful to remember what she knew of the correct etiquette and kicked herself for forgetting that handshaking would be regarded as touching.
On leaving the temple she noticed that all the shoes had been turned round facing outwards as a convenience to those who had visited and making it easier to slip the shoes back on.
