My Fish Merit Experience in Thailand

1. At the Wat Yannawa Temple
Along the Chao Phraya River
Bangkok, Thailand
By Liezel Magno Castro

2. This is Wat Yannawa or The Boat Temple

3. My Family loves visiting
Wat Yannawa
Fish Merit in the Chao Phraya River by Liezel Magno Castro

4. Behind the Wat Yannawa Temple is the Chao Phraya River
Fish Merit in the Chao Phraya River by Liezel Magno Castro

5. Chao Phraya is a long river that stretches from
north to south of Thailand.
Here you can see 5-star hotels, churches and
famous temples like the Wat Arun (Temple of the
Dawn), Wat Pho (Reclining Buddha) and many
more.
You ride the Chao Phraya Express Boats to take
you from one place to another.
Fish Merit in the Chao Phraya River by Liezel Magno Castro

6. Many activities take place in the
Chao Phraya river. Aside being a
route for transporting people
and goods, there is also the
annual Royal Barge for the Thai
Royal Family and the nightly
dinner cruises.
Fish Merit in the Chao Phraya River by Liezel Magno Castro

7. Another enjoyable
activity that you can do
here is feeding the
birds and the fishes.
Fish Merit in the Chao Phraya River by Liezel Magno Castro

8. Breads and pellets are sold
at the river bank.
Fishes and turtles are also
being sold for people who
wants to do fish / turtle
merits.
Fish Merit in the Chao Phraya River by Liezel Magno Castro

9. One Sunday, after our regular
Sunday Mass, we visited Wat
Yannawa. My daughter
Leecia, fed the fishes and the
birds, again in the Chao Phraya.
While busy enjoying the
sceneries, we’ve noticed a
group of three Thai students
conducting a Fish Merit.
In a pail, there were three fishes
representing the three girls.
Their Fish Merit begins with a
prayer.
They’ve recited a prayer (or
Suad, for the Thais).
Fish Merit in the Chao Phraya River by Liezel Magno Castro

10. The girls’ prayers took
about 10 minutes. After
they’ve prayed, they’ve
released the 3 fishes in
the river.
Fish Merit in the Chao Phraya River by Liezel Magno Castro

11. Me and my daughter
with the 3 Thai girls.
Fish Merit is one of the activities in Thailand where
one believes that when you release a fish (for
some, they use birds, while others they use
turtles), you give the creature its life back. By doing
so, you will also receive peace, life and freedom for
yourself.
Fish Merit in the Chao Phraya River by Liezel Magno Castro

12. Of all the wonderful treasures in this world, there
will be nothing more precious to someone than
giving them a piece of your heart.
Every time you share the goodness of your
heart, you always end up winning,
because LIFE IS AN ECHO.
It bounces back to you what you have given.
Fish Merit in the Chao Phraya River by Liezel Magno Castro