contributed by Chidchanok Apipoonyanon, 11 September 2020

Figure 1 Monks in Thailand wearing face masks while providing food and material goods. Source: Naewna

COVID-19 is no doubt a huge global health crisis. According to WHO, Thailand was the second country after China to have registered a COVID-19 case. Buddhist monks and local temples play a central role in towns and villages across Thailand. Monks engage with the community on a daily basis, while temples (each led by a chief monk) are often the institution people turn to when they feel anxious or troubled. The temples have also offered worship of various kinds, and are at the centre of pilgrimages during certain observances and festivals. They have been the primary source of support, comfort, guidance, direct health care and social service. To fight against COVID-19, however, temples all around the country have been closed to the public. Temple personnel have adopted innovative measures such as setting up sanitizing tunnels and wearing a mask while performing their religious duties in order to comply with social distancing measures.

The new normal living with COVID-19 includes conducting masses online in order to respect social distancing (1.5 meters) measures, always wearing a mask, making spiritual communion, receiving the blessing, staying at home, and taking care of the sick and the elderly. Buddhist devotees, who comprise 95% of the Thai population, also closely follow lockdown rules. The approved pandemic response to COVID-19 is continuing with analysis and observing social distancing to stop asymptomatic transmission. The monks who go to their daily alms round, or pindacara, dressed in face masks as well as robes, have become a common sight during the COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand.

At the height of the pandemic, businesses, government offices, and schools were placed under lockdown, whilst activities conducted at Buddhist temples in public were suspended. Currently, many people are out of work and without earnings to feed their family. This has led to escalating economic and social problems, which has prompted the authorities to ease restrictions as quickly as possible. Despite the easing of restrictions, there is no going back to the pre-COVID-19 era: hence placing a high emphasis on religion as people seek faith for comfort and guidance during the COVID-19 pandemic that holds individuals apart. For Buddhists, this involves freeing oneself from desire and passion to put an end to suffering. Buddhism used to be a dominant force in Thai society, but the importance of temples and monks has been reduced by urbanization and a changing urban environment in this modern world.  Signs are starting to emerge that Thais are once again turning to religion during this outbreak. Temples throughout the country now play a leading role in helping local communities overcome the economic challenges of the COVID-19 lockdown, as buddhist monks and local temples become a key source of aid in towns and villages across Thailand.

Figure 2: Monks give food to people affected by the COVID-19 lockdown. Source: Naewna

The offering of food and material goods to monks is an essential part of the daily practice of Buddhism. The belief is that lay Buddhists – followers of the faith who have not been ordained – receive, or make, merit through the act of giving. In the past, temples served as a center for every Buddhist community. The monks offered medical treatment through the use of herbal medicine, educated children, resolved disputes, offered moral support, and even named newborn babies. Normally, people offer food to monks to make merit, but during this time of crisis some temples have begun to give food to people affected by COVID-19. Besides free meals for the poor, temples and monks reaffirm their role as a key source of moral support for those in need. The temples were serving as shelters, while the monks assisted with relief efforts. A group of monks from some temples in Udon Thani Province have set up soup kitchens to provide both free food and shelters to the Thai people displaced by the pandemic.

Figure 3: The monks and novices gathering for the evening chanting at Phra Uposatha of Wat Bovoranives Vihara - screenshot of a prayer session livestreamed on Facebook. Source:Wat Bovoranives Vihara

While the daily alms round remains a daily ritual for most monastics in Thailand, some in-country monks have suggested a change in tradition given the pandemic. The monks with the new normal wear saffron masks that match their robes, along with homemade transparent face shields to protect their eyes and prevent droplets from passing to and from their faces. But how would we measure religiosity at a time when people are self-isolating? In order to avoid in-person meetings, the monks have learned to use online platforms. Although some temples are offering help to people, others are struggling to survive the outbreak. Can Buddha's teachings be spread using YouTube or Facebook videos? Prayers are now being broadcast online via the temple website, Facebook meetings are being held, and Dhamma talks are being conducted via a mobile phone application.

For now, people avoid meeting in large groups or even leaving the house. So what does attendance at the Buddhist temple mean? This means, ultimately, preventing and controlling "ourselves and our families" from any challenge and threat, including the COVID-19 pandemic that has yet to be defeated.

Reference

[1] WHO, “WHO coronavirus disease (COVID-19) dashboard,” World Health Organization, 2020. [Online]. Available: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019?gclid=Cj0KCQjw1qL6BRCmARIsADV9JtY2S_NJ8zHenOJnO7AtTa6vpCHkWU4QTRwBRNWH9shkWLqRiPoWAvUaAm__EALw_wcB. [Accessed: 28-Aug-2020].

[2] R. Soonthornchaiya, “Resilience for Psychological Impacts of COVID-19 Pandemic on Older Adults in,” HSOA J. Gerontol. Geriatr. Med., vol. 6, no. 53, pp. 4–7, 2020.

Chidchanok Apipoonyanon has just completed her PhD degree at the Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand, in Regional and Rural Development Planning, the School of Environment, Resources and Development, in May 2020. Her study focuses on how the COVID-19 pandemic affects the lives of Buddhist monks and temples in Thailand.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the position of the blog editorial team or the Asia Research Institute.

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