Why do monks in Thailand receive offerings from women on a piece of cloth rather than directly from their hands?
Formal etiquette for offering. Photography by Changpuak
This practice was not laid down by the Buddha, and is not followed by monks in other Theravada countries. It is a convention (possibly copied from Khmer court ritual) that was adopted by the Thai Sangha some hundreds of years ago in order to maintain the formality of relations between monks and laywomen. Giving, by its nature, creates a certain sense of intimacy between the one who gives and the one who receives. By accepting offering on a cloth, the monk creates an artificiality and distance in the act of giving which is intended to serve as an aid to mindfulness and restraint for both the monk and the woman donor.
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Source:
- Without and Within – Ajahn Jayasaro
Ryokan Says
In my time spent in Thailand I had the chance to see this practice just once, and the references about it seems to be quite scarce. Apparently this is a formal practice of etiquette of Thai tradition, but not that common. Although there’s an additional element to note, monks aren’t allowed to touch a woman and vice versa, which means that even when this practice is not always fulfilled, there’s always a sense of distance and deference shown towards the monks.
