Photo by Prabhu B Doss via Flickr. While some temples allow photography, make sure that the one you are visiting is OK with it. If they do allow photography, do everyone else a favor and make certain the flash doesn't fire.
Also, be mindful that the monks and worshipers are there to pay homage; use your best judgment before snapping a photo of someone having an intimate moment of worship or respect.
Nobody needs to hear your hotline bling ringtone blasting through the sacred silence. Switch your phone to silent or, better yet, turn it off completely and enjoy the moment.
Photo by Carla Cometto via Flickr. It can sometimes be considered rude to turn your back on Buddha. After walking up and admiring a Buddha statue, do your best to take a few steps and then back away slowly instead of immediately turning your back to it. This represents burning away the impurities and cleansing the surroundings to be lead in the right direction by Buddha.
Do not use the candles or incense of other visitors to light your own. Instead, use your own lighter or the candle offered by the temple. Check before you visit. First, take a bow toward the main temple building and place a monetary offering into the Saisen box. Saisen is meant to represent your gratitude to Buddha and the act of warding off bad spirits. There is no rule regarding how much you should offer.
Subsequently, if Waniguchi a gong hanging from the ceiling is available, ring it. Next, put your hands together. Straighten your back, close your eyes, put your hands together in front of your chest, and take a deep bow. In contrast to the ritual at Shinto shrines, you do not clap your hands here. Once you go through the Sanmon gate, turn back toward the main temple building, and take one last bow.
Bowls of water and other food offerings are placed before the Buddharupa on a raised platform or altar. Traditionally in Theravada Buddhism, the laity were not expected to meditate or know the scriptures. That was the job of the monks and nuns in the Sangha. The laity gain merit by supporting the Sangha and living a life of reverence and devotion which they express through worship and ethical living. Another feature of worship involves visiting stupas.
Firstly, there is no religious restrictions prohibiting Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Jews, or those of other faiths from going to a Buddhist temple. No one will be asking you to declare what faith you follow before entering. Everyone is welcome. And I have known many of them both in Thailand - and after I moved to America - that have frequently gone to Buddhist temples and were welcomed with open arms.
I also have some Christian friends that regularly go to one of our local Thai Buddhist temples here. So while your OWN religion might have restrictions on whether you are allowed to visit a different house of worship, we don't have those restrictions in Buddhism.
Secondly, no one will try to convert you to Buddhism if you go. Yes, the monks will lead in Buddhist prayers and will offer blessings, and you will be expected to pay respects to - or at least act respectfully around - the main Buddha statue enshrined at the temple.
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