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108 Buddhas at Wat Pho? Nope, Two Ubiquitous Plastic Stools.

108 Buddhas at Wat Pho? Nope, Two Ubiquitous Plastic Stools.

In a recent post I mentioned the Thai use of 108 to mean ‘lots and lots.’ Since that concept really goes beyond that colloquial usage, I thought it would make for an interesting post. And I’m sure it will one day. In the same post I noted that to Thais numbers are not just numbers. Some are lucky. Some are not. Many represent something more than the digits you’re familiar with. An example is a comment made by Cee Jay about seeing a mass gathering of monks in Chiang Mai recently, some 12,999 of them. I asked if someone knew why whenever there is a large gathering of saffron that the number is always one short of being even. Alex had the answer. See? You really do need to read the comments on this blog!

Numbers often have a significance in Thailand that comes from Buddhist teachings, myth, and lore. Farang who run across them may never bother to question why, Thais seldom wonder why either because they already know. And then there are those that you don’t even notice.

wat pho buddha

Wat Pho and its Reclining Buddha is a major draw in Bangkok for touri and locals alike. On of the more popular photo-ops is standing at the Buddha’s feet for a shot that takes in the length of the 150 foot long statue. The soles of the Buddha’s feet are decorated with mother-of-pearl inlay, 108 different designs depicting auspicious Buddhist symbols, like flowers, dancers, white elephants, tigers, and altar accessories.

After getting your picture taken at the Buddha’s feet, the second most popular activity at Wat Pho involves dropping coins into a long line of metal alms bowls that stretch along the length of the Buddha on the southern side of the wiharn. And yup, there are 108 bowls. At the beginning there is a table where you can purchase a cup filled with satang for your offerings. The pot of coins runs 20 baht and there is supposed to be just enough for you to drop one coin in each bowl. The general belief is that this merit making activity brings good luck, longevity, and good fortune. Some say if you have just enough coins to drop one in each bowl it’s a sign of good luck, others that if after dropping a coin in each you have one left over it means you’ll have good luck. Or at least a satang’s worth.

wat pho bowls

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