Travel like the Wind – Suchart Choolee
A scorching afternoon led me through the entrance gate of the ordination hall at Wat Chomphuwek, located in Nonthaburi Province. The moment felt like an escape from the burning sun into a pocket of cool serenity—and that feeling was entirely real.
Sunlight seemed to soften the moment my feet touched the temple grounds. A deep sense of stillness settled in. Large trees provided shade over the wooden veranda beside a monk’s kuti. Resting there, a gray-and-white cat curled up lazily on an old wooden chair, eyes closed in peaceful indifference to the world.
Leaves rustled softly in the breeze, sounding like whispers from the past. Inside the ordination hall, my attention was drawn to ancient mural paintings portraying stories from the Buddha’s life. One image stood out above all—the graceful figure of Phra Mae Thorani, the Earth Goddess, wringing water from her hair.
According to Buddhist lore, Phra Mae Thorani rose from the earth during the Buddha’s enlightenment under the Bodhi tree. When Mara and his army tried to tempt and threaten him, the Buddha called upon the Earth to bear witness. The goddess responded by twisting her long hair, releasing a torrent of water that swept Mara’s forces away. The act symbolized the triumph of spiritual truth over illusion.
Beyond this sacred scene, the murals of Wat Chomphuwek offer vivid glimpses into the daily lives of people from long ago—their clothing, customs, and quiet affections. One section shows a young man gently embracing a woman in traditional dress. He leans in to whisper something to her, both wearing gentle, knowing smiles.
“What could he be whispering?” I found myself wondering. The little cat from before stirred, stretched with a yawn, and then leapt away silently into the monk’s quarters—as if nothing had happened.Founded in the late Ayutthaya period, Wat Chomphuwek is one of Nonthaburi’s oldest temples. The ordination hall stands out for preserving traditional Thai architecture and original mural paintings in remarkable condition.
Moments of peace, reverence, and love linger in the faded colors on these walls, undiminished by the passage of time. Perhaps the whisper in that mural is telling us something eternal: that true love is neither loud nor grand—but quiet, simple, and as gentle as a sleeping cat in the shade on a sunlit afternoon.
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