สมเด็จพระวันรัต

“Thai people loves to get sprinkled with holy water by Buddhist monks. In fact, holy water is not that sacred as people use to believe in. The sacredness needs to be created by yourself. The true essence of holy water is a symbol of harmony. By nature water does not discriminate places where it flows. When water from different origins mixed together it blends well and become just water no traces of its origins. Sprinkling holy water in Buddhist tradition, therefore, means whoever receives the holy water he or she needs to behave like a water which has harmony as its essence and secure one’s mind to be cool just like the nature of water. Only then the sacredness appears as one wishes.”

“In celebration of Thai New Year and Songkrant water festival, there are two types of water i.e. inner and outer water. Outer water is a normal water we use it in daily basis. Water has many benefits in life. Every day, water keeps us refreshed and give essential life force. The Songkrant festival is Thai summer so the weather is hot in Thailand. Water keeps us cool from hot weather accordingly we pour clean water on each other with friendship as part of the festival to receive coolness and freshness from the water. Furthermore, inner water is equally important in life. Inner water is loving-kindness and compassion. When we speak or treat with each other if we speak or treat with loving-kindness and compassion the result will be a cooling compassion and happiness.”

“Blessing means good things in life that everybody wishes for. It is not something one can give to others. Whoever wishes blessing one needs to make out for oneself. Blessing can be received by practicing five precepts. The five precepts is the foundation of human life. When everyone abide by perfecting five precepts everyone lives in happiness.”

“Everybody wishes to be happy. Happy can be experienced in four matters. 1. Happiness of earning wealth by just and righteous means. We earn money from doing work in order to be happy. Buddha, therefore, says be industrious in doing wholesome jobs and learn to save good money we have earned. This creates the first kind of happiness through wealth earning. 2. Happiness of using wealth liberally on family, friends, and on meritorious deeds. We should know how to use money properly. Buddha teaches us to use money wisely and properly in taking care of one’s life. Partially we spend for self, partially we spend on taking care of someone who are grateful to us, partially we spend among friends and society such as taxes. This gives us happiness. 3. Happiness of debtlessness be free from debts. When we got money to spend we become debtless and happy in spending. These days there are many technologies luring us to be in debt. Therefore, be mindful and do not became a prey of those technologies and suffered by being in debt. 4. Happiness of blamelessness, to live a faultless and pure life without committing evil in thought, word, and deed. We earn money by working, therefore, we have to make sure that the work we do is not illegal and immoral. It has to be blameless earning. This then gives us true happiness in life.”