Exploring Wat Mahathat in Bangkok
Hallway in one of the Buildings
Wat Mahathat is a fairly large and busy temple complex located adjacent to the circular-shaped lawn of Sanam Luang and the nearby Grand Palace complex in Bangkok. The buildings here may not hold any particular architectural features of great interest, as it's more notable for it's bustling ambiance than it's structures. It does however provide you with some welcome light respite from the heat and buzz of tourists in the area. The grounds are open daily from 8:00 am until 5:00 pm and admission is free. On weekends there are stalls selling a variety of goods. What the complex does offer is the perfect opportunity for you to engage with the monks studying at the Maha Chulalongkorn Buddhist University located within the Wat. This is your chance to teach a little English as the friendly monks here are keen to practice the language and are even likely to approach you first. Football is their favourite subject so if you're a football fan, so much the better.
Vipassana Meditation Centre
Wat Mahathat houses the Vipassana Meditation Centre where you can attend classes practicing both sitting and standing meditations. Classes are available in English with the first one commencing at 7:00 am until 10:00 am. There are two other classes from 1:00 pm until 4:00 pm and 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm respectively. There are a few simple rules to adhere too. One is a request for a small donation another is that you will be required to wear only white attire during proceedings (available to rent at the centre) and to observe the five basic Buddhist precepts. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Buddhist Precepts, I shall attempt to explicate. A devout layperson is expected to adhere to a least the basic of these precepts of which there are five. They are, I shall not kill, I shall not steal, I shall refrain from sexual misconduct, I shall refrain from incorrect speech as in gossip, lies and abuse and lastly, I shall also abstain from intoxicating liquor and drugs. There are three other precepts needed to be adhered to on special holy days for Buddhist laypeople and foreign students who study meditation at Thai Temples. These are, no eating after noon, no sleeping on a soft bed and no entertainment. That means you can't watch TV or listen to music either. As far as the no sexual misconduct precept is concerned, that means no sex whatsoever. So sorry guys!
The Inner Temple Grounds
Return from the Wat Mahathat to the Bangkok Temple Guide Page
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