Merit and a Sense of Home:

Emerging Thai Buddhist Communities in Germany

Nokchachom Cheskhun Stier

• Publisher: Galda Verlag
• Year: 2023
• Print ISBN: 9783962033064
• eBook ISBN: 9783962033071
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Religion

This book provides an insight on the Buddhist way of Thai temple life in German diasporic context. It is based on input from several Thai Buddhist communities in Germany where the first-generation Thai transmigrants construct and form a sense of belonging by actively participatingin temple life. It also explores the multifaceted role that Thai temples play in the lives of Thai transmigrants. Moreover, this book combines the anthropology of diasporas with Buddhism and identity.ABOUT THE SERIESDevelopments in the field of area studies — goaded by the analytical deconstruction of world regions from their geopolitical sense — have deeply affected the knowledge production from societies and cultures located in the politicized compartmentalization of the globe. With this series, the editors and authors wish to contribute to a reformulation of sensibilities in area studies which emphasizes the epistemic value of contextualized knowledge production. Starting with the notion of Southeast Asia, books published in this series will contribute to a more nuanced understanding of regionality based on a multidisciplinary approach. The series represents an outlet for young scholars intending to publish their degree theses; and for established scholars who are looking for a place to republish out-of-print books. We also encourage scholarly collectives from the regions to publish collaborative works or edited volumes on topics that usually will not attract the attention of big presses due to their transdisciplinary orientation.EDITORIAL BOARDProf. Caroline S. HauProf. Vincent HoubenProf. Barend TerwielDr. Xue LiDr. Benjamin BaumannDr. Daniel Bultmann

Table of contents

• About the Series
• Abstract
• Figures
• Texts
• Maps
• Acknowledgements
• Notes on Fieldwork, Thai Terms and Citations
• Introduction
• Women and Thai Temples
• Thai Missionary Monks
• Mae Chii in Germany
• Temple Festivals
• Non-DoctrinalBuddhism
• Pathway to Becoming a Meditator
• Building a Meditation Community
• Conclusion
• Glossary
• Bibliography
• figure 1 Wat Thai in Germany in winter (Location: Wat Buddhavipassana, Wassenach)
• figure 2 Wat Thai in Germany in spring (Location: Wat Buddhadham, Freising)
• figure 3 An eating circle at Wat Balingen
• figure 4 The main Buddha statue at Wat Wassenach
• figure 5 Head shaving for the two nag.
• figure 6 Mealtime for monks during the conference in August 2017 at Wat Buddhavihara, Amsterdam.
• figure 7 A monk at Wat Pah Berlin sat on an elevated platform, doing a few minutes meditation as a mindful exercise before consuming food inside an alms bowl.
• figure 8 A few tiny wooden kuti, located outside the main building, surrounded by green nature.
• figure 4 Thai missionary monks visiting tourist attractions.
• figure 10 Mae Chii Nim directly transfers the food alms that laypeople offer in the alms bowl into a big bag in front of the Asian store.
• figure 11 Mae Chii Dao performing her religious duty as a temple driver.
• figure 12 Likay performers appear on the advertisement poster for the Salakaphat festival of Wat Stuttgart.
• figure 13 Laypeople receive blessings from the monks with their hands in wai positions in the festival hall.
• figure 14 Volunteers sell sanghathan and robes, symbolizing merit-making at Wat Freising during the Songkran festival.
• figure 15 Laypeople enjoy building and decorating sand stupas with flowers and ornaments during the Songkran festival at Wat Freising.
• figure 16 Volunteers (the author on the front right) work on flower arrangements for the festival at Wat Stuttgart, before taking them to the festival hall.
• figure 17 Authentic Thai food made for food donation during the festival.
• figure 18 A wooden miniature kuman thong shrine at Wat Freising with different offerings
• figure 19 Food offerings to chao thee every Wednesday.
• figure 20 Five spirit houses at Wat Berlin
• figure 21 An abbot acting as a ritual leader during a buang suang ceremony.
• figure 22 Laypeople taking holy food at the end of a buang suang ceremony.
• figure 23 Yogi chant together with visiting nuns from Thailand at Wat Wassenach.
• figure 24 Walking meditation in nature at Wat Freising
• figure 25 Luang Phu Tong sitting on the chair with Phra ajarn on the left side and the author in yogi uniform on the right side.
• figure 26 The exchange relationship between human and invisible beings in Thai Buddhist cosmology
• map 1 Map of Thai communities in Germany
• table 1 Overview of the Main Temples
• table 2 Overview of the Two Organizational Structures during Thawai Pen
• table 3 The Characteristic Differences between the Two Sects
• table 4 The Annual Cycle of Ngannwat across Germany and Europe
• table 5 Food Offering and Higher Beings in Thai Buddhism
• table 6 Daily Schedule for Meditators at Wat Wassenach
• table 7 Daily Schedule for Meditators at Wat Freising