THE ULTIMATE
Welcome To My Life Is An Adventure - by Dawitt Abraha I was invited to attend a funeral and wake ceremony. Thursday, October 08, 2015 It was to take place at Wat To'on Chaan Temple in San Sai district on the outskirts of Chiang Mai city IN Northern Thailand. The furnace of the crematorium near WAT To'on Chaan is in San Sai District and probably waiting to swallow each one of of us on one fine day. I am feeling apprehensive. My knowledge of Thai language is non existent; a major handicap. I needed to prepare myself for the day. But I am also curious to delve into one aspect of the host culture, namely Thai ceremony and ritual of saying the last goodbye to the departed. I was going to a wake and cremation funeral ceremony of someone called "Martin J Price" in San Sai district of Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand, later this afternoon. The deceased was from New Zealand. I had been informed that earlier in the current year, about 6 months ago, during his last visit to New Zealand he was diagnosed with a severe case of pancreatic cancer. His doctors gave him a very dire prognosis because his cancer had metastasised. He reportedly sold everything in New Zealand and said his goodbyes to friends and family back there down under accompanied by Amphion, his then Thai wife now widow and returned to Thailand to complete his final days. I was also informed that he had been in great pain during the last three months or so. On Thursday ,October 2 ,2015 he was pronounced dead of advanced stage pancreatic cancer . RIP "Martin". I Met you on the wrong side of living! His Thai wife of three years or so, Amphon, is having a funeral / wake in his remembrance on Thursday, October 08. I did not know him personally and I had not met him in the living plane. He was a friend of a friend. Friend of the girlfriend of John Ziegler (Denmark). I arrived at location with John, his girlfriend Sumalee and another of their friend`s called Nui at around 11:00am. We exchanged our formal "wai" greetings with the widow. We were soon thereafter introduced to her three daughters. They did not have much resemblances among them suggesting they may have been from different fathers. We were seated by the attentive attending family hosts and hostesses. Well; the whole ceremony is a big major event. The widow was surrounded by three of her daughters, other family members, by her two living ex-husbands and by another one in the cadaver stage. The living ex- husbands were accompanied by their new wives and new children. There was no visible signs of strife or conflict there. Very civilized. Also in attendance were old and new neighbours and friends. All of her folks from her village of birth, and from her current address were there. All of her current and past neighbours seem to have showed up. Amphon hails from Mae Tuen village in Lii District near Lamphun, Northern Thailand. Some of the girls in the congregation were cute . Food and water was plentiful as pomp and ceremonies Four monks were chanting and dishing out blessings to the living and to the departed. Some selected members of the family and friends were called out over the loud microphones by name and "honored" with special chants or prayers. They looked exuberant. The monks assured the widow and the congregation that heaven's door awaits "Martin" with open arms. The widow and some members in attendance show appreciation towards that confirmation. Sumalee and Nui provide me with constant simultaneous interpretations in English. AT around 1:00pm the casket is loaded up on a pick-up truck and readied to be taken to a nearby crematorium. The whole congregation accompanied the now ceremonial fabric draped and flower adorned casket. Another set of ceremonial rituals follow. ALL those that brought or paid towards the purchase of some gift were called out by name. They deposited their gift items on a table. I notice that all the gifts were similar suggesting they may have been purchased from The Temple Store. It should be noted that there is a much respected and or feared or revered culture of belief in ghosts in Thai popular everyday life. This is especially true around crematoriums, funeral homes and cemeteries. In and around town "Spirit Houses" abound. It came time to transport the casket to the furnace. The caretakers open up the casket rather unceremoniously. It seems like it`s all in a day's job for them. They invite the widow to step up on to a chair and look inside the casket. She nods. I bear witness to have seen the dead "Martin" embalmed lifeless inside the much adorned casket. I am reminded of The National geographic pictures of ancient Egyptian mummies. One by one the widow and close family members sprinkled/sprayed libation (holy water) on the cadaver. Later on the caretakers sprayed some gasoline and some liquid fire accelerator on and in the casket and on its contents. One of them lit the fire. They closed the heavy doors to the chambers. The widow expressed a subdued almost inaudible murmur of "Martin, I will miss you". Over a loud microphone the MC declared the ceremony to be over at around 2:00pm. Everybody dispersed after bidding farewell, the widow and her daughters who wore all black.. We hugged the widow and mentioned to her words of resilience. The mood suddenly is no longer formal and not necessarily in a sombre mood. The end of this chapter of life! Sunday, October 11, 2015 - had been a cool and cloudy rainy day. I mostly spent my time this day in and around Doi Suthep, from morning to early/late afternoon. I must have climbed up and down a small "Mt .Kilimanjaro" counting all those steps this afternoon. It is always an enlightening and rewarding experience up there. My almost monthly journeys to Doi Suthep are phenomenal whether it is on a motor scooter or by car or bus or on an occasional hike up the mountain. I have been living not far from this very well known mountain temple landmark in Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand. So much has been written about this exquisite temple.I dare not add any more to bother my readers. Any weekday or weekend is a blessing to hang around this "sacred" environment of space. It tends to be rather crowded on weekends both with locals and tourists. However; I always manage to find a quiet spot to do my sitting-- a few moments of prospective and introspective meditations, it is a sublime experience. I should also add that the trip to Doi Suthep provides one with captivating panoramic views of the valley inside which the city of CM is situated. You could say inside the belly of the valley. I JUST GOT HOME feeling refreshed and invigorated. I can face the coming week with deep gratitude. Webmaster: Dawitt Abraha - Email: [email protected] - Copyright © Protected - All Rights Reserved 2021
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