Hành trình về đât phật ngày 43 (23/1) Kaeng Sanam Nang, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand

The Devotion of Buddhist Followers

Last night, a Vietnamese-American Buddhist family arrived as early as 5 AM to prepare porridge as an offering for the monks after hearing that one of them was suffering from a toothache. Their heartfelt gesture touched everyone deeply.

Earlier, whenever the monks needed anything, the lay followers would immediately offer whatever was required without hesitation. Notably, one devoted follower, while at the market, saw a y phấn tảo (a traditional monk’s robe) and, thinking of the monks, joyfully brought it as an offering.

This morning, a large number of Buddhist followers lined up to offer alms to the monks. However, following tradition, the monks preferred to go on their alms round first, fostering connections with the local community. Many Vietnamese expatriates and lay followers from Vietnam also gathered. Among them was actress Anh Thư, a well-known Vietnamese celebrity, who arrived early to pay respects and make offerings.

After their meal, the monks took time to interact and take photos with the lay followers, acknowledging the effort they had made to come from afar. They then continued their daily alms walk, covering approximately 20 km as usual.

End-of-Day Story

Today, YouTuber Duy Bình encountered a minor incident when the police stopped him, suspecting that his motorbike lacked proper documentation. Fortunately, after proving that he had legally purchased the vehicle, he was only fined 500 baht before being released. What stood out was the solidarity among the YouTubers accompanying the monks—everyone looked out for each other during times of trouble.

Since arriving here, Bình has committed to a vegetarian diet and observing Buddhist precepts as a way of self-discipline. During today’s livestream, YouTuber Báu engaged in a long conversation with the monk. The monk’s teachings not only deepened their understanding of Buddhism but also warmed everyone’s hearts, making them momentarily forget about the approaching Lunar New Year.

Perhaps this year, Tet is no longer significant, as everyone has chosen to accompany the monks on their spiritual journey.

To conclude, here’s a meaningful quote from the conversation between Báu and the monk:

"When someone with bad intentions comes to us, we should guide them toward correction. If they refuse to listen despite our advice, then we must let go—because speaking further serves no purpose."