Chanting is the order of the day
Thursday was the 25th anniversary of the death of the founder of the hospital and its many subsidiaries. From some beds in a small apartment building to the largest integrated health system in the country, Poonchi Chanate built a pretty impressive business, mostly dedicated to serving the poor of Bangkok.
There were ceremonies at the two hospitals to commemorate the anniversary. Monks came to both locations to carry out the religious rights and there was, of course, lots of food offerings for the monks. The services, particularly at the geriatric hospital, were quite lovely. All the patients capable of being moved were brought into the courtyard of the main building so they could take part in the festivities. There were flowers. There was food and there was the powerful chanting of the monks.
Some westerners might think that the chanting of Thai monks is a boring drone, but I have always thought that chanting created a way for one to take a breath and relax. The haunting cadence of the monks voices seems to, at least for me, create a calm. I recorded a minute of the chanting at the main hospital. You can listen if you’d like.
Thais celebrate all sorts of special events such as anniversaries, openings, closings and almost everything else with monks, with food and with flourish. It’s always nice to be able to sit for 15 – 20 minutes and just breath. For those of you who might want more of these relaxing chants there is, of course, an app for that for your iPhone or Android phone. (What a surprise.)
I always love a monk line-up and chant. If I remember correctly they had one at the opening of U Sabai
They also have the monks at every U-Sabai AGM. It’s a tradition.
I love the chant. It is not a droning sound in the way we complain about droning sounds. But where’s the beat?
Actually, I meant where’s their teeth??
Maybe they left them in their rooms.