Making Merit With Monk Bowls

There are three ways of making and gaining merit. They are

1) to give alms (offering food to Monks)

2) to maintain religious commandment, and

3) to pray

If all of these are perfectly met, it represents a great merit making. But most of people see that making merit is to give alms. That is partly true because it is the first step of a fully-gained merit.

Thais’ belief is based on the Buddhist doctrine. The concept is as stated in a Thai proverb if you do good you will receive good; if you do evil you will receive evil. It means the result of Karma which represents the evaluation of all life events, that is, you will receive the outcome of what you have already initiated.

It was fascinating watching this family create Monk offering bowls. Each bowl is made up from 8 sections of metal. Below this woman crafts the sheets together.

Then a pattern is hand hammered into the metal.

Followed by heating the bowls to maintain integrity.

A varnish coat may or may not be applied to have a natural metal or varnished look.

Finally, the rim is adorned with monk style markings dot and squiggly blessing symbols. Along with your merit making wishes, possibly of love, wealth and happiness.