hookedondhamma

No big deal in my book.

the city got an award and it's inhabitants have a right to smile.

I love Bangkok and miss it. I really miss being in the center of the city and the weather there. The pollution not so much though.

I havent traveled enough to label it the world's best, but it ranks high with me (except a couple at tye immigration office .. on their rag 24/7)

When I drove to Bangkok today, on the highway 7 just past the airport there was a huge billboard saying, stop disrespecting Budha and a list of the " quality's" of budishm.

As this billboard was entirely in English I guess it was intended at foreigners.

Wouldn't it better if they made a Thai version of it and place in front of the bigger temples in Thailand, facing to the temple.

truth be told, things have been changing fast for quite a while here, and they only continue to - albeit at an increasing rate.

Mai bpen rai has been the standard as well as turning a blind eye. It's too late for thailand to try and make things better for buddhism; too many bad apples have the outside world seeing the variety of Buddhism in practice here.

the majority lost face on the international stage. And that enquires strict enforcement.

And believe it or not, there is much worse going on, ruining the perception of the good monks here in thailand.

as frustrating it is, until the cover is blown on them as kun. Kam, it will be mai bpen rai. And if it is not then a few baht will make it mai bpen rai.

Sak Yant is becoming very big in Europe now. I accompany many foreigners to have a tattoo done by one of the most well known Sak Yant Tattooists in Thailand and they pay ridiculous amounts of money. I may be taking a Monk to Europe very soon to do just this.

is he in Chiang Mai, by chance??

... But it's faSHUN! It's sa-DTYLE!

Do Americans consider this person an American?

I'm not giving my opinion, but really asking

if Americans consider this person (who he is and what he looks like) an American?

This treatment might now cause him to be a more radical muslim.

You'll probably find a vast spectrum of answers to this question, and one American obviously doesn't speak for all <~~~ not meant as a stab at you.

The Fire of Chalerm: this lakorn will make history.

Kings have been known to abdicate thrones for a woman, why not a monk?

Oh, many have. But it is well kept, and normally not on such a large scale.

If a King abdicates in favour of the woman he loves, you really think that is not on such a large scale or with as huge an impact as a monk giving up celibacy and his robes for the woman he loves?

I beg to differ...

A monk gives up his robes to be with the one he loves. In Thailand when that normally happens his supporters' feelings are on the fence, some lose face, some congratulate him, but it for the most part is kept within the circle of his supporters and the area close around the temple. This case is different as the monk was close to 40 rainy seasons and in a totally different status tier.

The poster before me made a reference to kings and their abdication then proposed the possibility of a monk doing the same.

Where you read too much into my post I can't figure out; that's your issue, not mine.

I hope she survived the wedding night. 38 years of back pressure...............

Naught naughty ...

I don't think it is so much about bumping uglies, but moreso because of the love factor. There's a very, very pure monk who passed away not too recently who was explaining how strong past karma can be. Some meditators are so adept it is very possible they can find out by accident or intent, who they used to be partnered with in previous existences. if, by chance, their partner is reborn in the same plane, that's where things get interesting.

The most revered monk in Thailand who passed away many, many years ago was telling one of his students how he was meditating once, when a being from another plane entered his sphere of concentration. At the time he was astute in practice and was reminded by her they had made a previous pact to reach the highest attainment in the practice.

The monk knew it would take many, many more existences to get to that point and he was ready to get things taken care of in this existence. And he did, despite her complaining, and was eventually quelled by his reasoning.

Not saying this is the case for Mr. Mitsuo, but karma is a very odd thing, indeed. Many know about it but very few truly understand the intricacy of it.

If you believe in it or not is your deal and I certainly don't knock it either way, but from his previous conduct as a monk he probably knew it was time for him to leave the monkhood. I certainly don't blame him for it - imagine how the gossip machine would be on overdrive ...

I think it's very amazing how Praj got a little ratchet in his opening sentence.

Great job on making the hoodrat English somewhat proper.

' ... 'cuz its 'bout 2 get all tran-tran up in hur - run tell dat!'

Very, very interesting article!

You should've gotten angry at the wife saying that you wanted to save money for their future, e.g. so you can afford to send them to a good uni.

You've never heard the phrase 'the future is uncertain' here in Thailand??

I agree about saving for the future.

But I don't agree about getting angry with Thai.

When you give, they ask for more.

Best not to give in the first place, then you are the arsehol_e who kept ALL his money.

This. And just to satisfy the other crowd, this happens everywhere and not just Thailand.

I see nothing wrong in helping out, but if notice a pattern where others don't consider your needs before asking for monetary assistance, only to label you as something not good when refused - the flag can't get any more red.

Here's an interesting article about a westerner wanting a traditional Thai style tattoo and why he wanted it done the old way.

I myself have had tattoos done in both styles and believe me,the rhythm of the electric machine compared to the tap tap of the bamboo can not be compared.

If you go for the traditional way it will be a tattoo that you have earned and not just paid for.

A paragraph from the article I linked above.

Khun Tyler mentioned to my husband, he had been in night Bazaar the night before and had seen a shop that now does traditional Thai designs with a machine but confessed he believed it was so much more meaningful to him, to be done properly, in spite or because it was done with simple materials and a rough primitive beauty that only a Thai artisan can create. It may not be as clean and sharp as could be done by professional a tattoo artist with a modern machine in a street front shop, pumping them out between doing wizards and fairies on tourists buts, however that is what makes it so special, the unique spiritual experience that comes with a life long reminder

About that last paragraph - I have seen a couple of guys with elaborate Japanese style tattoos (similar to Hokusai's Great wave off kanagawa), done with not a tattoo gun, but the long needle of the sak yant. Some of the guys who do t are VERY skilled in what they do. Sometimes on this forum Thais get a bad rap for their way of thinking, but when I see art like that I know the mind behind it is not average by any means.

So what's the difference between getting it from a tattoo gun and a monk ? I figured there would be some type of religious background behind it.

Hook - do you have a connection on someone who does the tattoos?

The difference is the monk is (or should be) well-studied in the arts. There are also ex monks who are know the arts as well, and even laypeople who have a gift for it.

Normally you should hear it by word of mouth -any monk or layperson who boasts of their supernatural attainments is more than likely putting on a good show.

If it really matters the ones considered authentic are finished or worked on while reciting a certain chant.

An

What style do you want? From a certain culture? What script resonates with you and can you find someone who can execute it properly? For many foreigners this doesn't pop up too often but if you have the time and know what you want, then be sure to get out if you can. Temples will normally allow one to rest for a night or Som two if one adheres to the precepts of a layperson, and you win in two ways - they often want to practice English and they often know those who can administer yants.<~~~~~ this does NOT apply to the Bangkok temples or in the main temples of other large city areas; you could stop in and ask but city temples can be very clique-ish. Some are absolutely exquisite.

The thing is though you should get to know who is doing it before you get that needle. Let me know if you need more information and I will pm you when I can get to a larger keyboard.

If you have an android based device check out ye GoogleSkyMap app. I am interested in seeing this as well

Hopefully there will be clear skies tonight.

There is a guy in my gym who has a Sak Yant tattoo on his back. Five lines ? I asked him if his a Buddhist. He said no. From what he told me he got it tattoo on in a regular tattoo parlor in Thailand. His a Muay Thai fighter.

My question is , isn't rude to a Thai person if he finds out this tattoo was not done by a Monk ?

No.

I know thai males who had them machine done by machine.

When I was at Wat Bang Phra there was a thai male getting one done traditionally. the group of us holding him down (just kidding) heard a sniff ... A few minutes later we saw tears. Poor guy couldn't handle it and it was about 1/4 done.

He never came back. Someone cracked a joke about getting it finished with tattoo gun.

OP, if you are interested in getting one done PM me ... Doi k'noi

Nooooooooooooo!!!!

Kings have been known to abdicate thrones for a woman, why not a monk?

Oh, many have. But it is well kept, and normally not on such a large scale.

Be honest. If you're going to invite someone else to come and dip into the somtam, then please, please let the cook know. Because a serving for two isn't meant for three ... someone could.get shot ...

A for effort?

A thai 'A' ... You know, no matter how bad it is it's still considered 'geng maak' and you pass on to the next grade ....

Many thai know stuff such as what this monk has been doing has been going on for years, albeit on a larger scale.

The difference is this one got caught via the internet and, from many, the first thing they think of Thailand is Buddhism ... And the world's oldest profession.

Nothing would have been done if he vid had gotten out, but it has and many thai now feel shame.

Going after one person ain't gonna do sh*t; going after all of them won't work because people want to make merit and the monks either don't want to offend them, enjoy receiving it, or gain major face within the community with their followers and other people.

Not all are like that though, which is good.

There are excellent monks who do more for the preservation of the Buddha's teachings than any high ranking ecclesiastical monk. But in order to really find them, one has to make the effort to figure out where they are, as often they don't enjoy being around a bunch of drama carrying, fingerpointing, chronic complainers.

Pastor says red is the devil's colour ...

What exactly are all those mons doing in Pantip plaza? Every time I go, I notice that there is a surprising number there. Please explain - someone.

Why not ask one? surely that would be more efficient than an assumed answer from someone who has never been in a thai temple. there are many, choose one and question away.

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