What to Do At the Wat: Advice for Visiting a Buddhist Temple

Paying Merit at the Wat

Now that you’re at the temple and not causing too much of a scene, it’s time to pay merit to your day of the week.

I don’t know about you, but I had no idea what day of the week I was born on until I came to Thailand. Every day of the week has a different color, set of attributes, and image of Buddha assigned to it. A simple Google search will tell you what your day of the week is. Unless you were born on Wednesday—then you need to know if you were born in the morning or the evening (I’m being dead serious).

Somewhere on the temple grounds, probably in the most crowded spot, will be a row of various Buddha statues with offering bowls in front of them. Before paying your “merit,” you’ll need to light three sticks of incense. They’re usually sitting in a bowl next to the offering area, and next to them should be a gigantic candle. If the fence post sized candle isn’t lit, there will be a lighter somewhere nearby.

Ryan Farley / Own Work

Light your three incense sticks in the flame of the mega candle and don’t blow on them! Your breath has evil spirits or something; I don’t know, but it’s bad luck to encourage the embers with a little extra help.

Now, you’ll go to the statue that represents your day of the week, and kneel in front of it. It should go from left to right with Sunday being the first one (don’t forget that you special Wednesday babies have two statues). Put your hands back into the wai position with the incense held between your palms, and wai the statue three times. Technically, you’re supposed to recite a lengthy three verse chant in between each wai, but we’ll save that for the next visit.

Deposit some money in to the offering bowl, and enjoy the fresh feeling of karma!

Ryan Farley / Own Work