Most people during the day find they need something to refresh them. It’s that time when we all start looking for something that will take away that feeling of being tired. We want to be reinvigorated and ready for the rest of the day. Well, you can just forget about having that afternoon cup of coffee, an energy drink or even energy pills. They’re no match for what Buddhist Monks are offering people in Thailand. Citizens in Bangkok are now able to get a daily boost in feeling good by simply spending some time during the day lying in a coffin.
At a Buddhist temple, 66 miles northeast of Bangkok called Wat Prommance believers pay a small fee to lie in a coffin for a few moments. Practitioners claim they rise from the coffin and feel reborn. Wow!
“I was out late last night with my friends. I’m really struggling today.”
“Don’t worry; I’ve got just the thing. At lunch, we’ll both go and lay in a coffin.”
“Do you think that will help?”
“It’s cheaper than getting a tan and easier than guzzling a quart energy drink”
“I think that’s a great idea.”
Wat Prmmancee offers a daily resurrection service. Many Thais believe lying in the coffins washes away bad luck and helps prolong life. And I thought carrying around a dead rabbit’s foot for good luck was strange.
Can you imagine how something like that would be perceived in our capitalistic society? I can just see a television advertisement. A man stands outside of a mortuary wearing a charcoal black colored suit and smiles as he points to a long row of open coffins.
“Folks, do you experience that afternoon let down? Are you looking for that certain special something that will give you the energy you need to make it through the rest of the day? Look no further because we here at Death Ain’t Cheap Mortuary have just the thing. Come in and lay down your weary body in one of our state of the art coffins. You’ll experience all the peace and tranquility that being in something intended for dead people can bring you. Remember after two visits the third one is free. Look for our coupon in your local paper.”
Hundreds of people do this every day at Wat Prommance and there are actually waiting lines during the day to get into the coffins. It lasts only 90 seconds so it can probably be considered the fast-food of the feeling cleansed and relaxed industry.
“Man can I please get ahead of you.”
“Why?”
“I haven’t been in a coffin for a few days. I need a cleansed and relaxed feeling fix. Without it I go, crazy man, you gotta help me, you just gotta, man.”
“Only if you get into the twelve step program for coffin laying addicts.”
“It’s a deal.”
The entire ceremony lasts just 90 seconds. Believers get into the coffin, lying on their backs then close their eyes as a shroud covers the coffin and then is quickly removed. As with anything I’m sure you’d have your fair share of complainers.
“You didn’t leave the shroud on for the full 90 seconds. Do it again.”
“The shroud you used was dirty. I want a clean shroud.”
“The guy who was in this coffin before I had odor issues. The smell is killing me.”(Couldn’t resist)
After the shroud is removed people are then commanded to get up and say a quick prayer. When finished praying the people are quickly shown the exit as nine more people anxiously come into claim their coffin. And you thought caffeine would keep you awake at night.
This is something that started at the Wat Prommance Buddhist community only six years ago. How did someone come up with this idea? Did it start with a meeting of monks on the financial status of the monastery?
“You know the cost of sandals and red robes is only going up. Shaving our heads isn’t so cheap anymore. We need to figure out a way to increase our income.”
There is silence as the monks struggle for a solution. Suddenly a nerdy looking monk in the back wearing glasses raises his hand.
“I got an idea that’s guaranteed to make us some easy cash and will put empty coffins to use.”
There is grumbling among the crowd of monks as they look at one another. Suddenly an elder speaks.
“Aren’t you the one who was selling head shaving services to bald people? This idea of yours had better not be a scam.”
“Hey, alls I’m sayin’ is we ax people to pay a bit a money, let ‘em lie down in a coffin fer a time, we covers it up with a shroud, take it off, say a pray show den ‘em the door and budda bing we’re ready for some more payin’ customers. Whadda ya say?”
“Aren’t you from a monastery in New York City?”
“Yeah, how dija know?”
I admire Buddhists in many ways. They are dedicated to peace and refuse to harm any living creature even if it gives you itchy bumps on your body. I will have to part ways with them on the coffin laying rejuvenation. I’m glad it works for them but I feel such an experience would have quite the opposite effect on someone like me.
Here is a link to the story.
https://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/27/world/asia/27thailand.html
Here is a link to the story.
https://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/27/world/asia/27thailand.html
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