rockyysdt

20 hours ago, JakeC said:

Something that might bring you some success, is to go armed with details of a package costing 300 baht and asking them how much that will cost you in total. If the price is 350 baht, then go ahead. If not, move on.

 

Examples

AIS: *777*9272#

TRUE/DTAC: *900*7597#

 

All much the same package.

 

20 GB max speed then

60GB 15Mbps then

Unlimited 1Mbps

Unlimited calls of up to 15 minutes per call

 

AIS offer a bonus of another 20 GB of max speed data.

TRUE, unlimited WiFi Hotspot usage.

 

Take that along with you on a piece of paper and ask how much to apply it. You are more likely to succeed with this, as you'll be within their minimum spend threshold.

 

 

Thanks Jake.

I've printed all your information.

Will  see if I can drive a deal at DMK.

Will feed back when I've settled in Bangkok.

R

40 minutes ago, JakeC said:

Another option would be to pick up a discounted Tourist SIM at DMK, rather than turning up in the hope of getting a 50 baht SIM.

 

https://www.klook.com/activity/74427-truemoveh-thailand-tourist-sim-card/ 238 baht for 50GB over ten days, as opposed to the normal 349 baht.

In addition, you get a month of free travel insurance: https://www.true.th/international/roaming/tourist-sim/dtac-free-travel-insurance-term if you register the policy within 24 hours of activating the SIM: https://www.true.th/international/roaming/tourist-sim/true-free-travel-insurance

 

and varied 'privileges': https://www.truemoveh-thailandsim.com/privileges

 

DTAC similarly:   https://www.klook.com/activity/16587-dtac-4g-sim-thailand                

 

DMK seems to be more expensive than BKK. 

 

 

 

Thanks Jake.

The true offer on this link appears to be sold out.

I'll still front up to the True & DTAC counters to look for any replacements.

R

On 5/17/2025 at 3:15 PM, JakeC said:

There is one at Suvarnabhuni. Good luck with getting them to issue a 50 baht SIM without browbeating you into obtaining a 30 day package costing another 375 baht attached to it. Unlimited 10Mbps, I guess.

Airport outlets need to make money in order to cover high rents. Let us know how it goes.

I'll be arriving at Don Meung.

Sadly on 30 in the country so I'll have to wing it.

I'll try the airport, failing that Terminal 21 at Asoke.

Will give feedback once it's done.

On 5/15/2025 at 1:27 AM, JB300 said:

This was the package I got for my parents… 

 

Seems to still be available to purchase online…

https://www.ais.th/en/consumers/package/prepaid/prepaid-sims/the-one-sim

Thanks J.

I'm out of the country & once I arrive I'm not sure that online will be the way for me.

Hopefully this offer will also be available at 7/11.

Cheers

R

On 5/12/2025 at 9:08 PM, JB300 said:

If only using WIFI then you don’t need a SIM, but if you want “Data” then you’re going to need one. 
 

Depends on where you’re planning to travel but AIS is probably the safest bet, bought 2 for Mum & Dad when they visited in Feb, IIRC it was 50B (each) for the SIM card & I topped up 200B (each) which was more than enough for their 30 day stay (given most places have WIFI). 

Thanks.

This was the information I needed.

50b for the sim plus data top ups.

It beats the 600b & 1,000b baht offers at the airport. 

Hi Members.

As mobileWhen visiting Thailand, I would usually purchase a Mobile Sim/Plan for my Smartphone needs for the duration of my visit.

I've found I rarely need a Mobile Number to be allocated as I can get by with EMail, LINE Moblie, & similar services.

Is there an ESim only, minus a phone number account which will cover me when I'm unable to access WiFi?

If there is, is this a cheaper option, and where is a good place to get one (e.g. 7/11 etc)?

thanks

R

Hello Contributors.

Hoping for some advise around buying gemstone jewellery in Bangkok.

The missus was interested in simple white gold ring with a blue gemstone.

I've been hearing of horror stories when it comes to this industry.

Some have suggested Chinatown for gold and jewellery.

Any tips on where to shop to avoid being scammed?

Also, how would I assess a real gemstone vs a substitute?

cheers

R

On 5/3/2025 at 6:12 PM, Magictoad said:

Mine came free with my Samsung Android phone.

Sorry about my lack of knowledge.

I searched through the apps on my phone, many I have never used, and yes "Google Translate" had already been installed.

It seems that when installed on a new device, as part of a suite of google apps you get it gratus, but if you try to install via the Play Store there is a subscription.

Either it's a premium app or maybe Google is trying to squeeze out some income???

Once again thanks for your assistance.

One thing, the translate is a males voice.

Can a user alter the gender of the translated response?

On 5/1/2025 at 9:06 AM, Upnotover said:

I use Google translate, works well enough.

The Google Translate App is being offered to me in the play store for a subscription of $6.99 a month.

Are free subscriptions not a thing anymore?

Hello community.

Hoping for some help.

Is there a recommended Android Mobile App which I can use to assist me to communicate with non English speaking Thais?

I'm looking for an easy to use Verbal Interface, free from bloatware & privacy intrusion.

Thanks

R

Hi community.

Hoping for some technical assistance.

Are the Motorola Edge Fusion series smartphones able to be  set up for Thai locals in terms of the language aspect?

I'm not familiar with this aspect.

How do Thais set up their phones to cater for Thai language and is this universal or specific to each brand/model?

I also thought, if you switch to Thai and set up how would you reverse it if you can't read Thai?

I'm looking at sourcing a Motorola Edge Fusion.

Thanks.

2 hours ago, NoMoonLogistics said:

Are you in the mafia? If not, you don't need to act like you are. 

 

I certainly am not going to participate in your data harvesting / market research  /whatever it is until you are prepard to answer a few basic questions - especially as some poeple are obviously sweating a bit of blood to give you detailed answers to YOUR questions.

I did say it was to be taken on a humorous level.

Lighten up man.

What would you like to know?

On 3/10/2025 at 1:57 AM, Cameroni said:

The belief of living in eternal bliss would get in the way of practice, if you think of such esoteric things you waste energy on thing that will not help you let go. Exactly right.

The way I internalize it, is that I'm mindful of being a cerebral person.

Until practice yields a tipping point, I feel that visions of something beyond, can give impetus to those who are conditioned.

Also communicating such discussions allow the meeting of other travellers, a digital mini sangha if you will, which can help to dispel negative thoughts and encourage my practice. 👍🙂

4 minutes ago, jts-khorat said:

 

Out of the absence of craving follows the absence of Dukkha in a wholly natural, for lack of a better word "automatic" process.

 

This is actually the central tenet of the Buddhavacana, see the Four Noble Truths.

 

 

Thanks for the links.

Definitely the absence of Dukkha, but the issue I wanted to address is "during which period does Dukkha become absent?

While you live, if you're able to achieve Awakening, then Dhukka becomes absent.

But does that continue once you die?

3 minutes ago, jts-khorat said:

 

No, of course not. Theravada is based on the laws of Kamma (not: Karma!), so it is not rejecting morals as meaningless.

 

On the contrary, only with the right application and development of morals (Sila) is it possible to be removed from the wheel of Samsara.

Thanks JT.

Removal from the wheel of Samsara is agreed.

But what about what happens after the quenching of Craving?

It is this part of the process that I referred to as being nihilistic.

15 minutes ago, jts-khorat said:

 

Interesting that you quote Ajahn Maha Bua, who is the most divergent from orthodox Theravada with his ideas of an indestructible Citta.

 

See: https://discourse.suttacentral.net/t/whats-up-with-ajahn-chahs-the-knower/21870

 

Which goes to show, that even in the most "modern" philosophical trend in Theravada, there are severe differences. This idea of a Citta does still have nothing to do with some form of enduring consciousness.

 

It does not help, of course, that Theravada is mainly based on Buddhagosa's Visudhimagga treatise and later Sri Lankan Buddhism, itself removed from the Buddha by a 1000 years, adding a rudimentary Boddhisattva ideal, the idea of a Buddhist god-king and lots of ideas about various supernatural phenomena (including a first try to make Pali a "magic" language, which only later succeeded with the amazing mathematical rules to build a Sanskrit grammar --> see Thai amulets and Sak Yant tattoos).

 

https://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/perera/wheel100.html#sect-28

 

All the more confusion, if you then move on to still equate Nibbana to Nirvana, where both are exactly opposites in idea.

 

So, to answer your question: nobody will be drawn to Theravada for its eternal bliss, as this is not part of the belief; it is simply not on offer.

 

Many people from even more derived Budddhist Mahayana and Vajrayana philosophies just might, as this is their opposing, central tenet.

Does that leave Buddhism as a nihilistic pursuit?

1 hour ago, Cameroni said:

 

Yes, indeed, there is a lot of debate about what Nirvana really means.

 

Thanks C.

I write to rekindle my path, but also to learn from others.

Thank you for your insights.

I tip my hat to you. Quite a journey you've experienced.

Your words help to make sense of my life and validate what has happened to me and what I do and hope to with the remainder of my impermanence..

I laughed wholeheartedly at your Zen experiences.

The Japanese know how to cut through to get to the heart, all be it with great suffering.

Regarding the stance some have that Awakening is the cessation of suffering due to the quenching of craving, I suspect this might have something to do with letting go of the Self.

You indicated, letting go was one of the hardest things to do in order to achieve that sublime state of being.

It might be possible that believing one will exist in eternal bliss might get in the way of letting go of the Self and thus impede your practice.  👍

22 minutes ago, Cameroni said:

 

Well, no re-birth isn't better. With a Buddhist lense it would be endless suffering. Obviously a permanent state of bliss is preferable.

 

I don't think people are mostly attracted to Buddhism because of the state of Nirvana promising eternal existence. The attraction of Buddhism for many is the logical and pratical approach to ethics, life and morality. It's a bit preferable to some of the Judaeo/Christian nonsense if you find things like people walking on water  hard to swallow. Having said that in Buddhism too indigenous folklore has been added on top of Buddha's teaching, devils and the like.

 

It's true though Yoga and other pursuits can help you achieve similar states which meditation in Buddhism achieves, however, Buddhist teachings are still the best way to achieve the overall goals of Buddhism, clearly.

Yes, but many are saying that Nibbana is not a permanent blissful state.

On the contrary, it is taught "that which was born is impermanent and therefore will die".

Also, if you were to follow the Buddhas teachings, and that of Arahants since, it's not simply meditation, but a process of letting go of attachment to Self. 

Self being impermanent.

Basically you detach yourself or abandon Self or Ego. 

If successful you Awaken to the reality that there is no self. 

This quenching of craving results in the cessation of rebirth.

Nothing there about bliss.

There are stages of meditation which result in blissful experiences, but the teaching is to observe them without attachment. 

Blissful feelings are impermanent and not the goal.

In fact attachment to bliss is an obstacle which will hinder your progress.

From where I see it there are two camps:

1. Those who believe that Awakening is simply a state in which you no longer have attachment and therefore craving is quenched.

    The conclusion appears to result in the cessation of rebirth.

    As nothing else was promised it appears to end in annihilation.

2. Others believe Awakening is again a state in which you no longer have attachment and therefore craving is quenched, but that this is a gateway to something beyond our comprehension.

Because I can't see why the Buddha would teach annihilation I favour the second option. 🙂

12 hours ago, jts-khorat said:

Also, in its 2500 years of history, there are literally a myriad of different philosophies and ideas -- very often conflicting -- that sprung from the Buddhavacana, especially if you move geographically away from where the Buddha lived.

 

You would be true if you would follow the diverse Mahayana philosophies, or even Tibetan Buddhism, where you reach some kind of paradise, where Bodhisattvas are eternal beings helping others.

 

At least in Thai and Burmese Theravada (itself derived from Sri Lanka and the theories of Buddhagosa's Visudhimagga from the 5th century), there are no "eternal existences", and there is no "place" or "state" called nirvana (which would be a Sanskrit word). There is nibbana (a Pali word), which describes the release from Samsara -- so it is exactly the opposite of an eternal existence: it is the release first from ego, then release from the illusion of such repeated existences altogether.

 

 

I do view it from a Thervada perspective.

Although the history goes back 2,500 years we do have recent works supporting many critical aspects of the teaching.

There are a number of Arahants who have documented their teachings and experience.

For this discussion I site Ajaan Maha Boowa.

Quote:  "So I turned my attention to investigate my own past lives. If the corpses were scattered along the length and breadth of Thailand, there would not be space left. Just this one individual. Imagine the time it took to be born and die that many times. It would be impossible to count all the births and deaths".

What do we make of his words, and that of several others?

Do you call them fakes, or did they experience a collective delusion?

If we accept these records and what we know about Theravada then:

1.  our experience of life is a continuous flow of impermanent phenomena.

2. The flow continues through our lifetime while there is craving.

3. As we were born, we are impermanent and will die.

4. But (if we accept the Arahants word), while craving remains the cycle of re birth will occur.

5. Ajaan Boowa indicates all of his past lives were unique to him and his rebirth lineage, not others.

6. Awakening results in the quenching of craving.

7. When craving is quenched re birth ceases.

What can you deduce from this?

a. One's past lives have a unique lineage associated with them.

b. Re Birth ceases when craving is quenched.

Quite clearly, according to Ajaan Boowa and others, there are countless past lives, and there is cessation of rebirth after Awakening.

If there is no longer suffering because there is no one reborn to suffer, then awakening appears to lead to annihilation.

Then aren't countless rebirths (virtual permanence) with good times and bad times and illusion, better than nothing?

Or is there something more to the state of Nibbana than simply quenching of craving?

10 hours ago, lamyai3 said:

Unlikely in most cases, given that this is recognised as an extremely rare event and not something most people would expect in their current lifetime. Even the understanding of Nibbana, like the snuffing out of a flame is very hard to comprehend, it is not a personal achievement. 

 

Most would be drawn to Buddhism within their own culture by absorption and tradition, and in many respects the more mundane aspects of Buddhism function not dissimilarly to old fashioned Christianity with it's petitionary prayer, a wishing for better fortune. 

 

At deeper levels (and where outsiders might be brought into the fold), it is as others have mentioned suffering. If Nibbana is the ultimate exit ramp within Buddhism, perhaps the entry point lies in the Four Noble Truths. 

Hi Lamyai.

If they are drawn by reasons not dissimilar to Christianity then doesn't this support my question?

I have never met a Christian believer who doesn't expect an after life.

And, as you describe, the end of suffering appears to be the ultimate exit ramp within Buddhism.

But if the end of suffering, which results from the quenching of craving,which then  results in the in the cessation of rebirth, then who would sacrifice their life/lives for perhaps countless lifetimes with the ultimate reward of being extinguished?

10 hours ago, JoseThailand said:

 

Because it's futile and only leads to more suffering

Why is it futile?

It's already been indicated that Awakening (which results in the quenching of craving and finally cessation of rebirth) is very difficult to attain.

Even the Buddha was amazed at the number of his re births "Quote: the Buddha attained the ability to recall a vast number of past lives along with numerous details about them."

It maybe futile in the end but if it buys you millions of re births, that is a lot of living, before cessation catches up with you.

And lets consider this more closely, yes, there is suffering, but there is also good times.

Cessation is nothing.

As the Led Zeppelin title "Good Times Bad Times" suggests, some days might be good, and others bad, but there is life.

Isn't that better than cessation?

2 hours ago, Sheryl said:

 

 

What hospital is she registeted at under the universal scheme?  If she gets a letter of referral fom them can get care at Chula free.

 

 

Thanks for your esponse Sheryl.

I believe Thabo is her closest public hospital.

In one of her messages, she indicated her doctor has been her prosthetic specialist for many years.

She had earlier complained that it might take a year to be seen by the specialist group.

She also indicated that in that system she'd likely get an inexperienced doctor and consequently a poor outcome.

Are we looking at a high fee vs virtually gratis for the same leg depending on how one engages the system?

Is the service vastly different between each stream.

On 10/26/2024 at 11:39 PM, Sheryl said:

There are a wide range of devices.

 

What hospital has she been attending? Where in Thailand is she? She can get care for free under the government health system but has to follow the correct referral pathway according to the hospital where she is registered under the govt health system. 

Hi Cheryl.

She indicated that the hospital she uses is King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital.

When I suggested the Sirinhorn National Hospital she got very angry.

She said she had a long relationship with her specialist doctor and going the Nonthaburi hospital entails very long waiting periods.

Due to her finances it's been a number of years since her last upgrade of the prosthetic which cushions her stump from the actual leg.

She's not in a good state physically and pretty sore.

She is quoting 80,000b for a replacement leg.

Her leg had been amputated at the knee.

5 hours ago, Brucenkhamen said:

 

It causes suffering, and doesn't work because of impermanence.

But given re-birth, doesn't this process guarantee continuation, subject to Awakening extinguishing it?

Quote: the Buddha attained the ability to recall a vast number of past lives along with numerous details about them.

Presumably these were his past lives, not your, nor mine, which is suggestive that in this procession there is something, something unique to each of us.

Which raises the question: Isn't Awakening akin to annihilation?

On 3/7/2025 at 1:17 AM, VincentRJ said:

 

Hi Rocky,

"In Buddhism, the phrase "that which was never born can never die" refers to the concept of "anatta" (no-self), meaning that there is no permanent, unchanging soul or self that is born and dies; instead, our experience of life is a continuous flow of impermanent phenomena,"

Focusing on the continuous flow of impermanent phenomena, I see an aspect which appears to be permanent.

What appears to be the permanent part of this continuous flow of impermanent phenomena?

Your continuous flow of impermanent phenomena, differs from my continuous flow of impermanent phenomena, which differs from Bruce's continuous flow of impermanent phenomena.

The key word is "what".  What being a pronoun, adverb, or dare I say, noun.

"What" appears to be permanent, unless of course Awakening occurs, in which case craving is quenched and re birth ceases (on a side note, is this akin to annihilation?)

Is "what" the real you (permanent)?