Buddhist temples of South Asia and the rules of behavior in them

What are Buddhist temples? What rules should be followed by those who are inside this religious structure? Such questions, first of all, interest those who are going to visit Thailand for the first time. The religion of this country - the Buddhism of the Theravada direction - finds a clear expression in all spheres of life. The teachings of the Buddha strengthened on these lands more than a thousand and a half thousand years ago, while representatives of other faiths make up no more than 8% of the total population of the country. For residents of Thailand, great importance is due to respect for religious subjects and representatives of the monastic community. And if those who are familiar with this school of Buddhism can safely go to explore a variety of Buddhist temples, of which there are a great many throughout South Asia, then a person unfamiliar with the subject under discussion should be armed with all the necessary information.

Whichever temple you visit - large or small, urban or rural, empty or crowded - remember simple rules, the violation of which can entail an insult to religious feelings and condemnation by the indigenous population. Traveling to places with a high concentration of tourists, you will find here amazing in its beauty buildings, such as the well-known temples of Phuket and Chiang Mai.

clothing

You probably know that Thailand is famous for fairly high temperatures throughout the year, but those who do not consider themselves uncivilized, should adhere to certain rules when choosing clothes. Buddhist temples are a sacred place for most locals, so when going to the temple in the neckline and mini-shorts, be prepared for a sharply negative reaction. Regardless of whether you are a man or a woman, your knees and shoulders should be closed, a transparent cloth is unacceptable. Do not wear clothes that are too tight, so that your appearance fully corresponds to the notions of propriety.

Take off your shoes on the territory of the buildings. In large temples, popular with tourists, tablets with requests to remove shoes are duplicated in English. The easiest way to observe this rule is for those who go on an excursion in slapping.

Behavior

Even if you come to Thailand to spend a honeymoon, refrain from any demonstrative sympathy, being in a religious place. Do not stretch your legs toward statues or images of Buddha, monks, nuns and other parishioners when you visit Buddhist temples. In Thailand, legs are considered a "dirty" part of the body, and direct them toward the shrine or even a person equal in status - a gesture of extreme disregard. Do not touch the Buddha images, as well as the monks of the opposite sex - this prohibition is associated with a complex set of monastic discipline. Try not to point your finger at anything. Once in front of the Buddha statue, fold your arms around your chest and bend your head in respect.

Keep silence. If you travel with children, take responsibility to teach them the rules of conduct in a sacred place.