What do you see in front of you? What is this and what does it symbolize?
You did not know there would be quizzes on this tour, did you? Well there are: so, do you remember what this represents?
If you are with other people, maybe you would like to pause the audio tour and talk about it amongst yourselves to see who can remember.
Ok, let’s see if you remembered.
A closed lotus flower represents, that you have the potential to attain Enlightenment. And, it is important to not allow the mind to be complacent, lacking motivation and encouragement to progress towards learning and growth to attain Enlightenment.
But what it is, is a Temple marker. It serves as a Temple marker.
The main building at a Temple complex, known in Thai as a “Sala”, is where the main events of a Temple will be held. These Temple markers denote the main building of the Temple complex.
These markers are placed around the main building in the eight (8) directions of the compass. This marker is the “east” marker. Then, you have north and northeast, over there towards the right of the entryway of the main building.
Prior to constructing this building, this would have just been raw land. They would have dug down into the earth to place nine (9) large concrete balls to mark out this land as the location of the main hall for the Temple complex. Eight (8) in the directions of the compass, and a ninth in the middle of the floor of the main building.
The eight (8) markers around the building, in the directions of the compass, have these markers. The ninth concrete ball is just down under the floor without an actual marker.
The primary Buddha statue will typically be placed at the west end of the main building looking towards the east.
If you were new to this Temple and coming here for an event, you would know to look for the building with the Temple markers around it, as that is where the event is most likely going to be hosted. And, should something ever happen to this building or land, the people coming afterwards would know, from the large concrete balls in the ground, that this is where the main hall was located.
Now, let’s go into the main hall. I will teach you about what you see inside.
You will need to take off your shoes, and go inside.
If the doors are closed, you can politely and respectfully open the doors and enter, then be sure to close the doors when you leave.
See you inside…
