Dear Ba` Con,
As most of you have already known that my wife is half Thai and Vietnamese. Her father, my father-in-law, was a Vietnamese doctor who migrated to Thailand in the early 50s where he met my mother-in-law, who was his patient. They had eight children, 4 boys and 4 girls. My wife was the youngest in their family. Anyhow, my wife wanted to do something in her Buddhist tradition to pray for my Dad. So she asked me what my Dad liked to eat. From what I heard was Pizza and Fried Chicken. Well, in Thai’s Buddhism, the monk can’t eat after either 10 or 11 am. So, we drove around this morning to a pizza place and KFC closed by our house, but they were not yet opened. So, we went to local grocery store and bought some can goods, Rotisserie chicken and some frozen pizzas. Anyhow, that was what available this morning…
We took it to the Buddhanusorn Wat (Thai Buddhist Temple) in Fremont, CA (http://www.watbuddha.iirt.net/ ) and provided to the monk.
My wife told the monk that we were there for my Dad. We had to put the food on special gold and silver trays that the monk provided us and pushed it toward the monk. In Thai’s tradition, once you enter the temple, you have to remove your shoes, and your feet must always be pointed away from the monks/Buddha. He said he would warm up the pizza before making offering to my Dad… The Buddhism belief is that the food offering would be there for my Dad forever; whenever he is hungry he would have food that he liked to eat available. While the monk was praying, we heard a big “Cal Train” train running behind the temple and as it passed right behind the temple, let out a big horn. Some how, I thought that was my Dad approving the fact that we came to a Buddhist temple to pray for him as well. Afterward, my wife did some water pouring ritual to help the connection of this life to the next life for Dad. Also, the Buddhist monk did spray some Buddhist Holy water on all of us to wish us luck.
Afterward, we drove directly to the Shrine of Our Lady of Peace Church (http://www.olop-shrine.org/ ). My wife also prays to Mother Mary and said she had seen Mother Mary in the clouds once while driving to work very early morning. Mother Mary has granted my wife some of her wishes to come true in the past. We as a family gather in front of the 32-foot stainless steel statue of Our Lady and said a simple Hail Mary to pray for my Dad and our family.
On the way home, we really felt at ease and relief that we were able to pray for my Dad from different perspective of religions and beliefs. This is what we can do for our Dad. My father-in-law also passed away 36 years ago on Dec 29th. Because the timings were so closed, we feel this is a good time of the season from here onward for my family to pray and remember both of our Dads. Every year, there is a big memorial celebration for my father-in-law in Thailand. I was fortunate to attend these memorials about 5 times so far. I am glad to do all that I can to pay tribute to our Fathers and Mothers who had preceded us to the after life.
Kiet
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