khaowong1

7 foreigners arrested as they where scamming your friends and relatives surely could be breaking news?

If nothing else, events like these can affect us all, even lead to 'clampdowns'...

No, No, No, please, not another "clampdown".. when will it ever end.

We are not citizens at all.

There you go, we are not 2nd class, 3rd class, etc. we are not citizens of Thailand period. We are visitors only, even if we have been here for 20 years, we're still visitors. We can go back to our home countries anytime we want. They are already there. Saying that, I think we should keep it in mind that we are visitors and act accordingly.

Japan is overflowing with skilled workforce. A workforce that is educated and aware of what they're value is, so many are unemployed because Japanese companies want to outsource work to where people still work for a few dollars a day.

This is it in a nutshell. cheap labor.. used to be a time when everyone outsourced work to Japan.

Does that mean he's also 10 points down on the maturity development index?

I transferred from US school system to the British school system when I was mid-teens. Sorry to say, it felt like I was stuck with a group of 10 year olds.

I can't wait to see where this is going.

Nothing really new, he is not Thai anyway but Chinese and just of the few elite Chinese that been running Thailand and hold most of the wealth and have a trickle down effect to the native Thais.

So, he's part of the original Thais:

The People of Thailand

The origin of the Thai people is rather vague, but scholars believe migrations occurred from the Chinese province of Szechwan around the 1st century AD.

This is what I have read and believe also.. And as the years went past, migrated down the Mekong, mixing with the locals that were here. What the locals were, I understand, were a mixture of the Lao/Khmer peoples. I could be wrong.

Time does not make any difference. Both Thailand and Singapore were corrupt 60 years ago and after WW II both in bad shape financially Dead Singapore 50,000 7% Thailand 7,700 .04%. Singapore's change had nothing to do with elections. A strong man took control and reformed the place. He realized education was key, and foreign investment and public safety among other things. The fact that Singapore had a British/Chinese work ethic helped.

Singapore people are boring workaholics. Thai people are lazy and fun loving. For fun Singapore imports Thai people.

50 years is not going to make any difference. Singapore and Thailand both were equal 60 years ago. If anything Thailand had an advantage. Compare GNP then and now.

In 50 years Singapore will be a financial giant and Thailand will still be Thailand. In the past 60 years Singapore was able to get rid of corruption, Thailand was not. I could tell you why but it is illegal even to discuss the reasons.

Don't you love it?

Add morons too, because they are BOUND to get caught... Pictures are taken at every ATM... classic not thinking past the moment syndrome. I want, I want, give me now, maybe I take now, I have now, good, good, tomorrow is another day...

Not so sure about BOUND to get caught, given that police brains work a similar way.

Multi-Million? scamming for a 100,000 baht is not anywhere close to Multi-Million. Even coming up with a million scammed isn't close to Multi-Million. I would say that these atm scams are getting more and more frequent as more and more crooks are getting educated on how these scams can be applied. The good old internet, you can learn anything off the internet today. Don't you just love this new tech age?

If parents want to see "necessary provocation of sexual interests" I suggest they log on to their sons or daughters hi5 account, They would be shocked

ha ha ha .. ain't that the truth.

Maybe it's something about you personally. Have you stopped practicing good personal hygiene since you've been in Thailand? Do you look at them and smile and greet them when you enter the store?

I've been going to my same 7-11 for nearly 5 years. The manager special orders things for me. If I dont' see somthing on the shelve I ask one of the clerks. Always a smile and a swadee krap and then in English "hello teacher or good morning teacher" I always get a "thank you" in English.

I guess an added note is I always interact with them. Whenever they make an attempt to speak English, even if it isn't very good. I tell them they speak very good and it gives them confidence and the next time I go in they try even more English. I find at 7-11 as with most Thais. They treat me as I treat them. If I walk into the 7 and glare at them and dont' speak anything. How can I expect them to speak to me?

I do the same at my 7-11 and get the same results. They know what I want when I walk in the door. Very nice people working there. Have never walked in there with out getting a smile and a swadee krap.

Yes, I've known some monks who use turtles and some who use an image of a snake. Trees are good as are flowers. even a rock. But most monks I know use a Buddha statue or religous picture. I had some interesting results using a Hanuman statue once. but normally I stay with my breathing.

Here's another place for you to think about and look at. Wat Luang Phor Sodh Dhammakayaram . It's southwest of Bangkok in Rajburi province. The meditation classes are run by Phra Bart, an American monk. His monk name is Phra Khru Baitika Dr. Barton Yanathiro. I think you might like it. It's not near as intense as Suan Mokkh. I stayed there for two weeks back in 2007. Good accomedations and good food and Phra Bart understands about how sitting for long periods is painful. He actually sits and meditates in a chair. The president of the temples meditation section is my boss, Somdej Phra Buddhajahn, the abbot of Wat Sakesa in Bangkok. It's beautiful down there. I don't know if the moderators will let me give you the website address, but I will try. www.dhammacenter.org . I don't think you will be disappointed.

Thank you for the body of the three intelligent replies above, they are each useful to me.

I don't think you need to explain rebirth to Thais.

You misunderstand me on this point - I am not explaining to anyone.

I seek to understand the emotional environment I will be in the middle of during a time I can not be asking dam_n stupid farang questions about the religious aspect of death.

Any other thoughts along the lines of the above would be most welcome.

Thank you.

Like Camerata said above, Theravada Buddhists, which include most Thai's, believe rebirth is "instant" and where this rebirth will take place, ie: heaven, human, etc, pretty much depends on the dying persons last thoughts just before passing on. From your talking of her being a good person and a major supporter of her wat, she shouldn't worry. It would be nice if a monk or someone she likes is there with her when she passes and encourges her to think good thoughts. If her last thoughts are on the Buddha or her loving family, she's going to be so happy in her next life. Good, Happy thoughts. That's my advice.

Hi Cuban.

The Buddha taught that upon death, past unresolved karma gives rise to re birth.

There is an endless cycle of death followed by re birth until karma is expended and/or enlightenment takes place.

My understanding is that all Buddhist traditions maintain that the final moment before death is critical to determining a person's future re birth.

We are told by Buddhist masters that the final moment of our consciousness is paramount, the most important moment of all.

If death is known to be imminent and the person can't survive, the family should call in the Buddhist priest to pray for the loved one so that at the final moment, the right state of mind has been reached within the person, allowing them to find their way into a higher state of re birth as they leave the present life.

When with a family member who is dying I recommend active listening and attention to their needs in order to assist with the settling of their mind. If they haven't already achieved it, teaching dhamma at this stage will probably be ineffective.

Active listening to your wife's feelings and words is also the best thing you can offer her.

A dhamma teacher who instructs chaplains indicated that the best way to interact with a person is to actively listen to them without advice. This includes listening to emotions as well as the words. Actively listening by nodding, asking questions and/or rephrasing what was said can be very profound and transformative to the one who is speaking.

For the one who is dying, just being present, caring, actively listening and being attentive to the dying person's wishes is the most powerful thing one can do at this time.

I hope this helps you and your family cope during this trying time.

Very good advice.

It's a shame this looting happens. somebody is planning on getting a lot of money soon. Let's see how they get these out of Egypt..

Fog of war made foggier by vested interests and propaganda as sources of information. if UNESCO comes in then both sides propaganda is shown for what it is, hard to corral nationalist ferver if journalists have access to actual facts.

There you go... it seems that Thailand doesn't want UNESCO there, maybe afraid they will find out the truth, maybe? But, they want UNESCO to fix this problem. How? If the Thai government won't let them near the shrine/temple, how are they supposed to find out what the problem is, then fix it? Typically Thailand...

There isn't a photo show shelling damages. only small bullet holes suggesting small arm shooting from within. Never mind that, but why UN and its ESCO want to go there and rush the listing of the Shrine for Cambodia to take over 4.6 KM2 which is inside Thai territory.

The World Court says the shrine is inside Cambodia? who's right?

Most youths say Valentine's sex is out: poll

By The Nation

A recent ABAC Poll survey found that 70.4 per cent of 1,256 youths interviewed in Bangkok and surrounding areas thought it wasn't necessary for them to have sex on Valentine's Day.

Around 60 per cent of the youths, aged 12 to 24, said they didn't regard the day as special.

Just over 70 per cent said they were virgins. Of those who had had sex before, 80.3 per cent were at risk of STDs because they didn't use or only sometimes used condoms, the poll said.

The respondents were also asked what advice they would give to a friend whose boyfriend or girlfriend had suggested they have sex.

Just over 36 per cent said they would advise the friend to wait until after marriage; 35.8 per cent would say it was OK but urge the use of protection; 18 per cent would say it was normal and a personal choice; 7 per cent would suggest their friend break up with their partner; and 4 per cent would suggest the friend refused sex and downgraded the relationship to friendship.

-- The Nation 2011-02-11

The respondents were also asked what advice they would give to a friend whose boyfriend or girlfriend had suggested they have sex.

"Don't forget the Kamasutra....."

Or the whipped cream and chocolate covered cherries..

The survey was conducted with 1,256 teenagers aged from 12 to 24 years old in Bangkok and vicinities.

Someone at AU is making assumptions with the definition of teen.

I wonder how many 12 year old teenagers took the poll?

The answers from the 20-24 year old teenagers could have also swayed the statistics.

Might be time for Somali Cruises to expand their operations...

They are pretty highly recommended by their clients...

Testimonials

"I got three confirmed kills on my last trip. I'll never hunt big game in Africa again. I felt like the Komandant in Schindlers list!" -- Lars , Hamburg Germany

"Six attacks in 4 days was more than I expected. I bagged three pirates and my 12yr old son sank two rowboats with the minigun. PIRATES: 0 - PASSENGERS: 32! Well worth the trip. Just make sure your spotter speaks English" -- Donald, Salt Lake city Utah USA

"I haven't had this much fun since flying choppers in NAM . Don't worry about getting shot by pirates as they never even got close to the ship with those weapons they use and their shitty aim--reminds me of a drunken'juicer' door gunner we picked up from the motor pool back in Nam" -- 'chopper' Dan, Toledo USA.

"Like ducks in a barrel. They turned the ship around and we saw them cry in the water like little girls. Saw one wounded pirate eaten by sharks--what a laugh riot! This is a must do." -- Zeke, Springs Kentucky USA

Funny, really funny. thanks for the laugh.

Those would be "guardians" there to keep malevolent beings from other realms out of the temple. Some of them are "demons" (yaksa) who converted to Buddhism (as folklore has it), others are nagas, some (particularly over the main door) are Brahmanical deities, and some (on doors and window shutters) are celestial beings with or without a weapon.

You see a similar type of demon guardian - called nio - outside most Japanese temples.

We have similar "guardians" outside our temple in Lopburi... This is what my abbot also said. To keep malevolent beings out of the temple.

This a worlwide problem with meditation. You meditate to have mobile phone to Buddha, to devas, to angels and so on.

This is not bad, but without pannha (wisdom). And the problem is: There is an self desired answer --- and they believe.

Farang come to meditation centers in Thailand for the quick instruction to have the short way to awakening, to see the devas and angels.

Thai monks are not different.

Ha, Ha, Ha.. Your right Lungmi... I've traveled around to a lot of different temples and almost always, some Thai monk is asking me what do I see and who did I talk to in my meditation. Like I'm some kind of guru just because I'm a phra falang..

What we do know is that the longer we practise/meditate, the more likely we are to make a decision based on the Dhamma rather than some other reason.

Hopefully if we're ever in a situation where we must make a split second life or death decision our mindfulness will be well established enough that we make it with full mindfulness.

Golden words. Let's wish for higher mindfulness.

The way I see it is that rules like "don't kill" are postulates rather than ultimate truths. I can imagine that in a situation of war when under fire I would shoot back to save myself or people around me. I know that there may be some monks who let mosquitoes bite them but my mindfulness allows me to kill them to protect myself from pain and disease that they carry. Maybe I'm not a good Buddhist but looking around at this "Buddhist country" I see lies, cheating, stealing and killing at far higher levels than I would allow myself.

I know a American monk in Pak Chong, who says the same thing about mosquito's.. He studied under Ajahn Chah and has been a monk for 30 years. We feel the same way at our temple in Lopburi. Of course we normally say a little, Annica Vata Sankara, after swatting the little bloodsuckers.

You have access to a weapon and your intention is to stop the slaughter of innocent children.

Do you allow the carnage to continue or do you act to stop it?

Is it correct intention?

People ask monks these hypothetical questions all the time. Ajahn Sumedho answered by saying he didn't know what he would do (because until it happens one doesn't know all the factors and options involved), but he would "take the appropriate action at the time." There is always an option other than killing the gunmen. You could hold the gunman off until help came, you could try and incapacitate him, you could cover the children while they escaped, you could sacrifice yourself. The Buddha said don't kill, so presumably intentional killing never leads towards nibbana.

You never know the reality of a situation. What if your gunman had just shot two kids with tranquilizer darts and you thought they were dead from bullet wounds, so you kill him? What if he was a really nice guy who'd just had a nervous breakdown, or someone had spiked his drink with LSD? An arahant would take a course of action that would benefit everyone involved, including himself and the gunman.

What we do know is that the longer we practise/meditate, the more likely we are to make a decision based on the Dhamma rather than some other reason.

Wow, this really is good. Thanks Camerata

^ It's the way I understand things too.

But if a kid is born with a cleft palate or some other problem, people will say it's karma, consequence of past life

How does it fit with Buddism doctrine ?

I mean there is a kind of "mechanical" part of Karma, a cause then a consequence. That I understand. Then it seems there is moral part, good and bad, not "mechanically" related. You do something bad in this life then you will have a cleft palate in the next. That I don't really understand.

Karma is such a complex subject. There are many teachers studying this subject. I met a monk from Chiang Mai in Bangkok last year that taught on Karma.. He was good, but still left some questions. Then there's Stephen Knapp, Dr. Steven Hairfield and many more who write on this. I study it a lot. Have been for about three years and still don't have a concise answer. I've found that the Mahayana's have a much more interest in Karma than the Theravada's. I have this feeling, this question about Karma has been going on for 1000's of years and will continue for 1000's more. I would hope someday to find a teacher that can really, really put some precise understanding on it. But to paraphrase the Buddha, it's a complex subject and difficult to understand and explain.