Grover

I talked about this once with my ex. She said hugging her parents & general physical contact is a no-no. Yet she openly 'flirts' with her father, using her tone of voice and mannerisms. So, although seemingly devoid of physical affection, there is plenty of other affection there. It's only one observation but something I never completely understood. Is it Thai? I don't know.

I'd like to add my 2 bahts worth and say this is a good move by the PM to get some working room. Troublemakers can easily disturb the peace in this volatile, sensitive, and critical time. And it's most important the PM has the space and time to move ahead and get the ball rolling without interference.

What Thailand needs is not another amendment of the law but a radical reform to revive the longforgotten spirit of the teaching of the Lord Buddha.

This can be found in Thailand in the Thai forest tradition which follows the teachings of the Buddha more closely.

Chownah

However, Ajahn Maha Boowa (a Dhamayut), who is a forest monk is intimatly involved in this 'crisis'. Not too long ago busloads of his followers and monks descended into BKK to make their voice heard regarding the appointment of the next Sangaracha. Sadly, it seems even the forest tradition is not completely immune from the power plays.

Having a partner a few decades younger is like having a fantasy come true

ehem, are you talking about some type of reversed oedipus fantasy ?

The dhamayut's are fighting with the mahanagais. The mahanagais are infighting with each other. What a mess. So, we have had the tsunami crisis, the bird flu crisis, the political crisis, now the Buddhist crisis?? lets hope we have no angry mobs, this will make Thai buddhism look really bad.

I think Ajahn Maha Boowa has got his eyes on the 'top position' also. In the Dhammayut sect he is the highest ranking 'candidate' with the most rainy seasons & his work promoting the Dharma. However he has not passed his Pali level 9 exam (the highest), making him possibly unqualified.

if your interested in an increase in general performace, I heard that upgrading the HDD to a 36GB 10000 speed, 5.x m/s seek time HDD is a good choice. They should only cost about 3000-4000 baht.

The CBR150 drinks a liter of 91 octane petrol every 30 km, even when pushed hard. Top speed with a 90-kg pilot is 140kph. Traffic on the super-highway isn't safe above that. You might be surprised how well it keeps up with all but the fastest cars (I used to pass Benzes and new Volvos). Besides, I was only doing about 30kph when I hit the dog in the road.

Those numbers sound great. Can't wait to start motorbike riding again. The pushbike i've been using for the last 10 months in OZ is fun enough from A to B but im starting to get sick of the swooping birds and pushbike chasing, ankle biting dogs

I'll definitly check out the CBR & second hand NSR's. 66000 baht for a CBR sounds like good value. I've only had a few years experience on 250cc bikes, so I think i'll stick with my plan for a smaller bike. After some Thai road XP, if I get the itch I can always upgrade to a more beastly machine. For now with all things taken into consideration, the CBR sounds best for my needs.

I'm saving up for a medium-term trip to Thailand & I would like to buy a new bike (one of those 'sports' bikes, something good value, a good allrounder). I was hoping if someone knows so I can start doing my budget & expenses. I was thinking (hoping) about 90000 baht or less.

The type of riding I expect to be doing is short trips during the week and occasionally some upcountry day trips.

In India there are thousands of westerners who you might call "spiritual seekers". They travel around the country visiting various ashrams, temples, famous masters and so on. Sometimes they settle down in one place that feels right and go deeply into spiritual practice. Because India is so cheap, some of these people are there for years. There are certain places you can stay and meet a fairly interesting flow of people coming and going as they drift around the spiritual circuit.

Does something similar exist in Thailand? If so, where are a few places you might go to connect with this community?

If you can speak thai, it is much much easier.

You could go to a forest temple, ordain as a monk, learn the chantings and other basics etc for a year or so then go on Tudong around the country, living in caves, forests, etc, & meeting various 'masters' etc. but it can be rough & is not for everyone

you could also pack some white clothes & donation money into a small bag, shave your head, then go travelling to some upcountry meditation temples.

Hi Grover

Samana Potirak of Asoke sect has answered someone who asked him that he is a Pra Potisat ,Buddha-to-be,( Remember he ANSWERED, not CLAIMED or BOASTED ). Visit and observe him if he is the enlightened one you're looking for. me too

Of course he was ousted from Thai Buddhist Society. But if you 're looking for content, not form. He may be one.

IMO, the reason why the enlightened one doesn't tell others may be of this analogy. Was there any brightest man with highest human I.Q telling others he is. And what will be a response towards him. I may be wrong. Sorry if my English doesn't make a full sense to you because I'm Thai.

Your english is fine phloiwang, no worries. Do you know where Samana Potirak is staying nowdays? I might visit him. But why was he ousted? Sounds serious.

I would not want to classify someone as totally enlightened or not. I don't like classifications. I will just say that I have met some wonderful spiritual teachers. I have no desire to classify them.

but you have classified them as being 'wonderful' have you not?

for me, the more totally enlightened the more totally wonderful

but seriously, we are basically talking about the same thing, arn't we? just your words are more fuzzy and warm.

I think a correct understanding of the first noble truth is important to distinguish the fake gurus from the fully enlightened ones & everything in between, as well as some self awareness for our own spiritual development.

Hello all

I'm a newbie here. I just finished "siadai kontai maidai arn" by Dangtrin. I think it is both entertaining and informative. It makes me believe the author should have attained Dhamma already.

That sounds like a book worth reading

One of my fav buddhist books is "Wings of Awakening" by Thannissaro Bhikku.

Although this is not strictly a buddhist book, "The Power of Now" by Eckart Tolle is pretty close to buddhism. He describes his enlightenment in the book. One night he was in his bedroom overcome by strong overwhelming anxiety. He remembers saying to himself "I cannot stand myself", which triggered something & he was sucked into a vortex (?). When he awoke he saw the world as an awakened person. Or so he claims. Great book anyway.

The limit is $1,000 AUD a day. At todays exchange rates it's about 28,000 baht per day. It's actually never an issue for me because as there are no charges I do more withdrawals per Month than I use too. I only take out 10K each time I need it.

Thanks for the info, looks good. Just what I need. My debit card is charging me AU$5 every time I make an international withdrawal and my credit card is shafting me 2% on my Amazon payments.

Some Q's I couldn't find on the website.

1. Can you use it at pretty much any ATM or do you need a special one?

2. After you top up, Do you withdraw as a Cash Advance on the credit card?

Cheers.

I wonder if any Thai psychologists do NLP.

I have KSC commercial 512/256, costs 1900 Baht per month (about 27 Quid), on BitTorrent I do get 512 download most of the time but some would say too slow, too costly.

Anyone know what is a good value broadband deal at the moment? I'm looking at around 512/256 (more is better if its good value) doing say, 10-20GB per month. 1900 sounds reasonable enough but a bit expensive.

What's the proper way to sit in the presence of the head monk?

My guess, related to the way people are described sitting in Lord Buddha's presence, is to make greetings in front and then sit to the side. With seating position and/or head lower than the monk's.

What else?

kenk3z

After you have done your prostrations to the Buddha & the head monk, sit in the 'mermaid' position, one leg tucked behind, the other foot against the knee. Yes, the seating position should be lower than the monk; if you are both sitting on the floor the monk will normally find a cushion to sit on. Use the wai when he is talking and when you are responding.

Perhaps the easiest way would be to go with a Thai person and copy what he or she does. Even if you break some of these rules, it's generally not too serious because of the (false?) perception of the culturally ignorant farang. Just don't point your foot directly at the monk and all should be ok

Luang Tha Maha Bowa is a monk in NE Thailand who is thought by many to be an arahant (or sotopana or whatever). They used to have a regular show every evening where he would give a talk about some Thai Buddhist topic. He would chew beetle while he talked and there was often a trickle of spittle flecked with beetle drooling down his chin....he would wipe it away sometimes with the back of his hand. Is this the type of stuff you are interested in watching? If not then perhaps being enlightened is different from what you imagined......the Buddha teaches that being enlightened is unimagineable and undescribable....this means that what ever you think being enlightened is like or however you describe it, you are wrong.

Chownah

I think the point is not what he does but how he does it; ie. with 100% mindfulness.

I havent experienced any spiritual 'breakthroughs', & I only know about Nirvarna from what I have read or hear from others. Nevertheless, I believe the Buddha achieved what he said he did & I think others have too. I don't think my idea of Nirvarna is *overly* distorted. Actually the Buddha did describe enlightenment (using analogy) as being a fire burning out because its fuel was exhausted. Its quite a powerful analogy.

Thanks to the last few posters for all the valuable information.

Thaksin Shinawatra

Present Location : United Kingdom

Present classification : Farung

Lets change his classification to a Farang kee nok to distingish him from all the respectable farangs.

All the abaove ingrediants can be found at Tops supermarket. As for the Garam masala, you can make your own using this basic recipe:

1 tsp Cloves

1 tsp Cardamom

2 one inch Cinnamon sticks

1 tsp Black pepper

Dry roast all the ingrediants seperately and grind. Store in an air tight container.

Thats great news, thanks for that

Has anyone actually met a fully enlightened monk in Thailand? I'm asking because I would like to meet one. I believe there must be at least a handful somewhere in Thailand, living in the forests somewhere.

If you find an arahant, what will you ask him?

I have no specific question to ask at this stage. I think I would spend time observing his body movements. I would be very very interested in the way he drinks tea, eats, walks, etc.

The ingredients for the dahl I cook are all available with one exception, Garam Masala

Yellow split peas

Turmeric

Ginger

Cumin seeds

Coriander seeds

Garlic

Chili powder

Fresh coriander

Thanks for that. Is it the type of thing sold in the fresh food market? or would I have to find an Indian specialty shop?

Hi rikpa, thanks for the info, quite educational.

I love the dramatic terminology. Next time someone asks me why I want to meet an arahant, ill say "I am bored of languishing in samsara for aeons, and would like to meet an Arahant to shatter the ten fetters and break the chain of grasping to remove the obsucations to omniscience."

All this information is fantastic. Nevertheless I am still back at square one as far as finding a Arahant monk goes. Maybe ill try asking the abbot at the local temple, fingers crossed.

Grover, Grover...

Have you happened upon Wat Mahatat? They teach really great Satipatthana suff there. Or Goenka? Or done a sesshin at a Zen Center? Or trained in Tibetan Dzogchen? Come on! Why would you need to meet an arahant, except in the mirror!

yeh yeh yeh. there is no arahant in my mirror, i'm not sure what you are suggesting but that smile looks suspicious.

Why would I need to meet an arahant? obvious, no? Ask any aspiring golfer if they want to meet Tiger Woods. Ask any football fan if they want to meet, say, David Beck. The answer is inspiration. Anyway it is nothing serious, I would just like to meet a spiritually advanced person (ie. Arahant) one day.