The venerable leader of Wat Suan Kaew, nestled in the serene, leafy environs of the district of Bang Yai in Nonthaburi, has found a truly inspired way to remind his followers about the timeless triptych of morality, concentration and wisdom. In an act that marries tradition with progressive thought, he is distributing unique charms. Meant to provide a daily reminder against the enduring human foibles of greed, anger, and delusion, these tokens are offered as an eloquent solution. Believers visiting the temple to take part in the virtuous act of merit-making may procure them, or they can be acquired through a nominal donation of just 10 baht per piece.
The resident monk, Phra Ratchdhamanithet, is the mastermind behind these thought-provoking pieces. Despite voices of criticism, accusing him of mimicry and contradiction of his own expressed disdain for faith-based practices, he stands firmly entrenched in the belief that these charms are a beacon of wisdom, rather than items of faith. As per his explanation, the objective is to provide a tangible symbol which serves to constantly remind us to be vigilant in our battle against the three human flaws: greed, anger, and delusion.
Drawing on his understanding of human nature, the sage has given life to these three flaws in his charms. His portrayal of delusion is beautifully depicted through a lotus flower encapsulated within a circle, urging us to perceive the circle as the lotus. Anger is represented by the stark shape of a gun, a violent image that portends the transformation of a good human soul into a malicious one when it allows wrath to take control. Greed, the most tangible of the flaws, is symbolised by an outstretched hand greedily grabbing at money and gold that are seemingly suspended in the air.
However, there are weapons to combat these foes in the form of the three virtues – morality, concentration, and wisdom – also known as the Three Jewels. Phra Ratchdhamanithet’s charms place a strong emphasis on these virtues and contrastingly, do not contain even a single sacred syllable unlike those founded on the basis of faith and superstition.
Rebutting the critics, he said, “This is the first batch of charms I’ve made, created specifically for those undertaking acts of merit-making. Sure, there were criticisms about imitation. But I believe in viewing things from a different lens. This idea is inspired by Luang Por Buddha Thas, who promoted the use of the Three Jewels as our righteousness’s weaponry, not physical weapons like guns or knives.”
The monk extends a warm invitation to anyone captivated by the charms to visit the temple, meet him and take these thoughtful creations home. They will be available for collection from the present day right up until the New Year. Place these on your front door, perhaps perform daily consecration if it pleases you, but these charms are meant to serve as a daily aide-mémoire for mindfulness and auspiciousness, not dependent on any prior consecration ritual by the monk himself.
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