BY CARRIE SIMMONS

In the Hindu religion, Ganesha, an elephant-headed figure, is the deity of wisdom and intellect among other things. Later adopted by Buddhism, Ganesha is said to reside in the first chakra, or energy center of the body, and is revered as the guiding force of all other chakras. The chakras make up the Wheel of Life – an ancient symbol that symbolizes the Buddhist teachings on the human condition. The Buddhist yogic philosophy of living is on the rise in the United States and oftentimes integrated into the medical field through visualization and meditation for healing. It is with elephants and Buddhism in mind that I embark on a fact-finding mission to Thailand to discover the healing powers of Eastern philosophy through the mind, body and soul.

Mind

Buddhism first arrived in Thailand hundreds of years ago and according to the 2000 census, almost 95 percent of Thailand’s population still practices Buddhism. With an elaborate set of principles and a long history of practice, Buddhism is sure to challenge my Western mind. I began by visiting some of Bangkok’s infamous golden temples. They weren’t hard to find, just follow the line of saffron robes to the gold spires punctuating the clear azure skies. My first stop was Wat Pho, where hundreds of gold Buddha statues sit in meditation. One particular statue attracts the masses to this temple – measuring almost 150 feet long, Phra Buddhasaiyas, the reclining Buddha, lounges in a colorful temple resting his gilded-gold body and kicking up those mother-of-pearl inlaid feet. In the center of the temple complex, I was able to witness Buddhism in action. Monks gathered for their midday prayers and one could hear a low, reverberating hum wafting down the vibrant halls.

Body

Wat Phra Chetuphon (Wat Po) is best known as the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, and for being Thailand’s first “open” University. Inside Wat Po, the Wat Po Thai Traditional Medical School incorporates ancient rituals of herbal healing and therapeutic massage that are renowned throughout Thailand. Beyond Wat Po, there is a plethora of massage options spread throughout popular tourist areas, including crowded Koh San Road, a well traveled backpacker haunt where I kicked back on a comfy recliner and watched the crowds flow past while my feet were rejuvenated by a Thai foot rub…the perfect remedy for a long day of sightseeing. A new and wildly popular addition to the spa treatments in Thailand is the fish spa. Visitors sit with their feet dangling into a giant fish tank while hundreds of tiny “doctor fish” swarm around feasting on dead skin cells. It felt like ants were crawling up and down my legs and between my toes…I do not recommend for the ticklish.

Soul

As if learning Buddhist philosophy and rejuvenating with a massage and foot- epidermis-eating-fish treatment wasn’t enough, Thailand offers ample opportunities to revive the soul through volunteer tourism. With Ganesha in mind, I headed to the jungle west of Bangkok to come nose-to-trunk with Thailand’s most revered animal, the elephant. Just outside Kanchanaburi, famous for the bridge over the River Kwai, Elephant’s World  cares for sick, injured and aging elephants. Founded by veterinarian Dr. Samart Prasitphol, the organization, which hosts eight elephants, lives by the motto: “We humans work for the elephants, not the elephants for us.” The elephants on the farm come from traumatic situations of abuse, neglect or overwork. Visitors to Elephant’s World can help care for these beautiful symbols of Thailand by feeding, bathing and planting food for these gentle giants. One of the highlights for me was bath time. I rode Kammoon, a 62-year-old elephant whose thick, rough skin slid underneath me as she lumbered into the river, where we spent an hour frolicking in the water together while I attempted to scrub mud off of her and she tried to shake me loose. It was a rare commune with one of nature’s most majestic beasts and an experience I will never forget.

If Thailand is too far for your wandering feet, you can experience the invigoration of mind, body and soul a bit closer to home.  Here are a few ideas:

–    Learn about Native American culture at the Heard Museum: heard.org
–    Get a Thai massage – find a list of recommended masseuses at massagetherapists.healthprofs.com
–    Try your hand (and foot…and legs) at Urban Yoga:  urbanyogaphx.com
–    Dig into the healthy concoction of vegetables in Pad Thai at Wild Thaiger: wildthaiger.com
–    Feed giraffes at Wildlife World Zoo and Aquarium: wildlifeworld.com

Carrie Simmons is the producer of Travel With Kids, a family travel documentary series airing on television around the world and has traveled to five continents in search of adventure. Look for the show on PBS this fall. For more information on the series, visit TravelWithKids.tv