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.

Floaty The Boaty

Miff and Biff in Philli

Bryce Frederick and Mary Frances had a great time when we visited in Philli. We were able to get out and enjoy the park and gardens, many dog sightings, Boathouse Row, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

On the front steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art with the city scape in the background.

Great city view of Philli

Bryce does his best Rocky Balboa impression.

3 G.G's 2 Lunch 1 Day

While back in the states for a vacation, Bryce went to lunch with three of the great grandmothers or GGs. Grandma Jane, Grandpa Nick and Great Aunt Amiee (Nick's sister) came along as well. We went to the Yankee Candle company in Mass, where they have a nice restaurant where we all had lunch. As you can see Bryce was taken with the GGs and they were quiet taken with him.

4 Generations

I want to post this picture in the memory of my Grandma Bonnie Hurt, my name sake. She passed away Monday morning. I'll always remember the good times I had with my Grandma Hurt. When I was younger she lived in Oregon, she and my grandfather raised goats, I loved to visit their farm. They also loved to sail and took us out on their boat in the San Diego Bay. In recent years we have been fortunate to visit with her every Memorial Day. We just visited her a few weeks ago while in San Diego. We enjoyed sitting and chatting by a pond and watching Bryce blow bubbles.

Choo- Choo

Essex, Connecticut Steam Train

A Bowl of Cherries