mj9945

My boyfriend and many of his friends take a thing called " jintropin" ( maybe wrongly written)and swear by it. Like, total conviction in its benefits and I must admit that his energy levels do seem up.

They get it directly from china.

What do people here think about it?

<br /><b>Buddhism Wins Best Religion in the World Award</b><br /><br />In advance of their annual Leading Figure award to a religious figure who has done the most to advance the cause of humanism and peace, the Geneva-based International Coalition for the Advancement of Religious and Spirituality (ICARUS) has chosen to bestow a special award this year on the Buddhist Community. "We typically prefer an under-the-radar approach for the organization, as we try to embody the spirit of modesty found in the greatest traditions," said ICARUS director Hans Groehlichen in a phone conference Monday. "But with organized religion increasingly used as a tool to separate and inflame rather than bring together, we felt we had to take the unusual step of creating a "Best Religion in the World" award and making a bit of a stir, to inspire other religious leaders to see what is possible when you practice compassion."<br /><br />Groehlichen said the award was voted on by an international roundtable of more than 200 religious leaders from every part of the spiritual spectrum. "It was interesting to note that once we supplied the criteria, many religious leaders voted for Buddhism rather than their own religion," said Groehlichen. "Buddhists actually make up a tiny minority of our membership, so it was fascinating but quite exciting that they won."<br /><br />Criteria included factors such as promoting personal and community peace, increasing compassion and a sense of connection, and encouraging preservation of the natural environment. Groehlichen continued "The biggest factor for us is that ICARUS was founded by spiritual and religious people to bring the concepts of non-violence to prominence in society. One of the key questions in our voting process was which religion actually practices non-violence." <br /><br />When presenting the information to the voting members, ICARUS researched each of the 38 religions on the ballot extensively, offering background, philosophy, and the religions role in government and warfare. Jonna Hult, Director of Research for ICARUS said "It wasn't a surprise to me that Buddhism won Best Religion in the World, because we could find literally not one single instance of a war fought in the name of Buddhism, in contrast to every other religion that seems to keep a gun in the closet just in case God makes a mistake. We were hard pressed to even find a Buddhist that had ever been in an army. These people practice what they preach to an extent we simply could not document with any other spiritual tradition."<br /><br />At least one Catholic priest spoke out on behalf of Buddhism. Father Ted O'Shaughnessy said from Belfast, "As much as I love the Catholic Church, it has always bothered me to no end that we preach love in our scripture yet then claim to know God's will when it comes to killing other humans. For that reason, I did have to cast my vote for the Buddhists." And Muslim Cleric Tal Bin Wassad agreed from Pakistan via his translator. "While I am a devout Muslim, I can see how much anger and bloodshed is channeled into religious expression rather than dealt with on a personal level. The Buddhists have that figured out." Bin Wassad, the ICARUS voting member for Pakistan's Muslim community continued, "In fact, some of my best friends are Buddhist." And Rabbi Shmuel Wasserstein said from Jerusalem, "Of course, I love Judaism, and I think it's the greatest religion in the world. But to be honest, I've been practicing Vipassana meditation every day before minyan (daily Jewish prayer) since 1993. So I get it."<br /><br />Groehlichen said that the plan was for the award to Buddhism for "Best Religion in the World" to be given to leaders from the various lineages in the Buddhist community. However, there was one snag. "Basically we can't find anyone to give it to," said Groehlichen in a followup call late Tuesday. "All the Buddhists we call keep saying they don't want the award." Groehlichen explained the strange behavior, saying "Basically they are all saying they are a philosophical tradition, not a religion. But that doesn't change the fact that with this award we acknowledge their philosophy of personal responsibility and personal transformation to be the best in the world and the most important for the challenges facing every individual and all living beings in the coming centuries."<br /><br />When asked why the Burmese Buddhist community refused the award, Buddhist monk Bhante Ghurata Hanta said from Burma, "We are grateful for the acknowledgement, but we give this award to all humanity, for Buddha nature lies within each of us." Groehlichen went on to say "We're going to keep calling around until we find a Buddhist who will accept it. We'll let you know when we do."<br /><br /><a href="http://blog.beliefnet.com/onecity/2009/07/freedom-from-religion-buddhism-wins-best-religion-in-the-world-award.html" target="_blank">Source</a>.<br />

But surely how can it win when it is not even a religion?

In a Quaker meeting I once attended in UK a monk ( from chithurst, west sussex, england) told us quite clearly

This is not a religion.I forget much of what else he said,although I remember him saying it was a philosophy

Can someone explain what is going on?

One question I would like to ask is, can one be both a christian and a Buddhist? My boyfriend says "yes"

He is making a crude joke about how this highlights the state of play here and religion in general.

He does have a point about things looking very confused in this area.

<br />What makes me laugh is people back in the home country who slag off Pattaya or Thailand and have never actually visited.<br /><br />I actually don't know any male who has come to Pattaya for a holiday and not had a great time.<br />

wow- because I have not met a single male who has been there recently and liked it.

One man booked for 5 days, checked out next day.

I first went there in the early 80's,it was fine and I still think its fun city. I do not mind a bit of sleaze. But my male friends have nothing good to say about the place, nothing.

" full of European rejects,losers, scumbags....." are the typical comments.

Funny because I am sure most of them partake in certain amounts of vice themselves.

<br />Hi<br /><br />On saturday morning after my back started hurting badly I went to BNH and met the only doctor available at the spine section. It's been a very thai experience . Basically "Hello, xray" than check the results " here maybe problem, MRI" than looking at the results "here, two hernias (slipped disks), take medecines, rest a lot, next week come back, maybe we start daily physiotherapie" when I enquire what happens if it doesn't heal " Surgery easy one , very common, bye bye now " and as usual you don't even get an explicative notice with the medecines they give you...<br /><br />Hence at home quite a bit of work, starting with reading "Protusion" instead of "Hernia" in the MRI results, than check what kind of medecines he gave me (over 2200for a single week, at least I hope they are the right ones, 13000tbh for the entire consultation, MRI, XRAY and medecines).<br /><br />Checking the internet, it seems that doctors are supposed to ask patiens to do a few movements to check how bad is the situation, the surgery is NOT that easy and riskfree, and I hope I will be kind of OK until meeting a doctor in the develloped world...this one has graduated from Chiang Mai university and apparently spent a few weeks in Seoul for a practical of some sort, I guess Songran wasn't the right time to go to the hospital as well...<br /><br />Yet is there a decent specialist slipped disk in BKK ? Bumrungrad maybe ? where else ?<br /><br />Thanks<br />Luis<br />

when I was here a few years ago my boyfriend took me to a man called Doctor Don near soi cowboy

he was great- really good.

Bumingrad said I had a slipped disk and need surgery. After a few calls to him I was on my feet again and have had no trouble since

<br />I haven't posted this to stir up a hornets' nest, and to be honest I rarely get involved in the angry threads on TV. But after logging on here to see threads like Tuk Tuks Trying It On, Khao Soi Ripoff, Apartment Rental Problems, and other such threads, I wonder why folks bother to post to begin with? <b>This is not a direct pop at the afore mentioned, but to pick up on such threads generally.</b><br /><br />Maybe some foreigners think they are giving a good service to others by warning of the perils and pitfalls of living in Thailand as an expat? Or perhaps they are just letting off steam by putting virtual pen to virtual paper as it were? Who knows, but it's usually the case that if you hang on to your anger or discontentment, then it typically gets worse, never better, until you mange to let it go.<br /><br />When I first came here and started up a business in Bkk, I got so uptight and disgruntled on a daily basis that I thought my head was going to blow up on some days. I'd happily say things like, <i>"Oh, if this was in the UK, they would never be allowed to get away with this or that!</i>, and other such daft one-liners.<br /><br />One night as I lay in bed after another stressful day in the office, it dawned on me that Thailand was not the UK, never will be the UK, and nothing or nobody is going to change it so that it more resembles the culture of the UK. I realised that I couldn't change anything around me other than me myself. In other words, my attitude.<br /><br />So I had but 2 choices with no compromise in-between!<br /><br />1) Sod off home and call it a day before I had a nervous breakdown<br />2) Learn to go more with the flow of things and to stop finding fault at every given opportunity.<br /><br />I chose the latter and both my attitude and outlook with regards to living as a foreigner in Thailand have changed for the better. Because of the nature of the place, I never expect anything to go according to 'my plan' and if it does it's a bonus. <br /><br />Moaning about Thais and Thailand, however justified it might be, or might seem to be at the time, is not going have the Thais adapt their way of doing things for the sake of the expat. <br /><br />London cabby's are notorious for ripping off foreigners, at airports and train stations, so trying to get a bit of extra money from a fare is by no means unique to the Thais. The Pakistanis and Bangladeshi's are sick to the back teeth with British law and are currently protesting for a change which will allow them to adopt sharia law within their own communities. <br /><br />So the pattern seems to be that anyone living as an 'alien' (for want of a better word) in a foreign country, fits into one of two categories. 1) The disgruntled 2) The contented. The latter have their ups and downs of course, but deal with their gripes locally, and let them pass before they have the chance to grow into huge resentments with a long life expectancy. The former refuse to let go of a grievance as they attempt to spread their misery to anyone who will lend them their ear and join their gang of happy complainers. The 'disgruntled' ones generally tend to be repeaters and if they're not moaning about one thing they're moaning about another…<br /><br />It's like my old grandmother used to say, god rest her soul, if you can't stand the heat of the kitchen lad, then get out!!<br /><br />Aitch<br />

in some part you are in way correct

however only when it is petty nonsense subjects

, the type liked by many who post here, there will not be much of a change about the odd vendor, the rip taxi, etc

but to say that the west and westerners cannot change certain things about Thailand is wrong.

As an extreme example the British, with full permission of the USA bombed Bangkok for it non compliance to certain typical Thai style memory lapses over ww2 war policy.

The message being " forget our orders again- and forget Bangkok, or we will level you into dust"

The threats these days are far more economic than that, but nobody should really be under any illusion of who is really in control of this country.

Please do think it is a kind heated,well meaning certain gentleman who portrait is up in many places.

Thailand has since complied to each and every "directive"( read "order") from the west. The simple truth is- it has no choice.

I think too much moaning becomes boring, and is too petty, some is justified and Thailand, unfortunately is still like a child in that it still needs someone to watch over it.In so many ways, for its own good

<br />

@Churchill (original poster) Great posting !<br /><br />@sheikxhoni - Finally, someone who 'tells it like they see it'. I couldn't agree more that the men here need to be more like 'men',. respecting their women - not degrading and abusing them, they need to loose the girlie shirts and tight black jeans, lead their families and be men of their words.<br /><br />@ robblok, christcourt, norwayeagle - if you don't see a problem with the Katoys,.. you need to open your eyes. Being something you're not, whether it's a masculan-wanna-be-male lesbian or a danty-feminine-lady-boy is damaging to any countries social standards. (norwayeagle - you especially need to seek some help my friend)<br /><br />@ verydumbubba - well, I think your name says it all... well chosen.<br /><br /><br /><br />@ IanForbes - get real. Yes, averages and statisitics can be misleading.. but come on, the point of this post is that people here don't see what the effects of some of their actions are. See below ..<br /><br />@ geriatrickid - great point about the corruption... and well said. It's sad that Thailand is continued to be viewed as a struggling-3rd-world-country.. when it could be so much more.. and I do NOT mean more commercialized, I mean more Thai,.. more of what the Thai people are 'said' to stand for.. <br /><br />@ tomyamgoong - first of all, learn how to write in ENGLISH, on an english board. Secondly, your simply ignorant if you can sit there and honestly say that there's not rroom for serious improvement in these two areas - corruption and feminine men. If that is truly your position, then maybe it is you who is in the deepest hole of all..<br /><br />@ Scott - you have some good points.. and I think mainly, making sure this ISN'T a 'senseless debate between the superiority of men to women or vice versa'.. is very valid. However, no one said anything about superiority.. the OP and second poster are referring to CHARACTER.. the character of men in this country is, by all definitions in the world, has been very acceptable to be feminine and corrupt - maybe not in the same person mind you <img src="style_emoticons/default/wink.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="wink.gif" /> . They are two extremes, the katoy character is denying the responsibility of being a supporter and leader by being feminine and 'soft', the corrupt character is excercising a power and control kick to take advantage of people to their own benefit.. both are equally damaging.<br /><br />@ JR Texas - couldn't have said it better myself.. parents need to take responsiblity for educating their children about morals, ethics, etc.. Gotta start somewhere..<br /><br />The truth of the matter is Thais could care less if the government is corrupt as long as it improves their way of life... this shows a MAJOR opportunity for improvement in the thought processes of these people. Thailand is a beautiful country, with a wonder culture and great people.. they deserver to live a better life - even if they don't know what that means, what it 'looks like' or how to get there. Take, for example, the concept of accepting a corrupt government as long as it improves your personal way of life.. sounds great.. EXCEPT, when YOU end up on the other end of that corruption.. not so fun. Not working out as you had planned. Hence, a little education on the effects of some of their actions and choices, especially when intended to help improve that same way of life, should be offered when possible. Couple this with the widely acceptable femininity of males.. and you have a social development problem.. which you can see effects of almost anywhere in Thailand. If the men here were more honorable, respectable and 'took care of business',.. the women wouldn't be flogging themselves at every foreigner that walks by. It's not like this in other coutries, EVEN WHERE PROSTIUTION IS LEGAL! So, you can't put it off on, 'They just do it to make money, etc.'. No, they do it for lack of a decent selection in the local 'dating pool' ! <br /><br />I would apologize for the rant, or if this offends someone, but to be blunt... I don't mind if it offends you, as long as you can see that there is truly a problem here,.. that maybe you, I or someone we know will have the opportunity to help these wonderful people truly improve their lives and relationships. All in all... I think the intention of everyone on this board, aside from those less endowed with mental ability, is to HELP Thailand.. not hurt it.<br /><br />Cheers

<br /><br /><br />I wonder what Devine Power gave you the right to "HELP" Thailand. I smell imperialism.<br />

<br /><br /><br />You should have your nose checked.. this ISN'T about me, or you.. it's about helping others.. Heck, even if you want to be totally self seeking here do it for that fact that what goes around comes around.. either way,.. you got to look at the intention here.. the orig poster and second poster have valid points.. whether you choose to see that or not, is your decision. And for what it's worth, half of my family is Thai..so, yes, I am familiar with the Thai and the Farang side of these issues.. and it does effect everyone..<br />

<br /><br /><br />5555! Quiet an achievement I dare say. Many people's families on this forum are half Thai <img src="style_emoticons/default/smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="smile.gif" /> I am married to a Thai, for years already I live a Thai life amidst my Thai family of 12, in a totally Thai extremely modest fishermans' family accommodation far south, where I am happy to see no more than one farang every week.<br /> <br />Its' a chosen life : I still own 2 businesses, a house and an appartment in Europe, and a villa in Phuket, but I sleep on the floor with 16 others in a small one room house with no glass in the windows. All because I love my Thai family and friends more than anything else.<br /> <br />By the way, you don't live in Thailand, you live on Phuket that is referred to by Thai as "farang country". I have many Thai friends on Phuket, but I am sad to have to admit they all have become all half farang. It was such an alien place to my inlaws when i first showed them around. They see it as our(farang) province, and after the first days of excitement they didn't really like what they saw after all. They wanted to go home early.<br /><br />For the record : At home there are many katoey too, they have been a part of Thai society for a thousand years. The Phuket katoey were not the reason the inlaws didnt like the island. But the -in their Thai eyes -loud, impolite, arrogant, bad mannered, bad mouthed, disrespectful and agressive farang were. It was all I heard during the ride home, and i was ashamed to be farang too. The inlaws were curious, have seen Phuket now, and will probably not return.<br /> <br />You and the likes, who try to influence the Thai ways, are the reason why farang are becoming increasingly impopular in Thailand, why we will never have the right to own land here, and why farang never will be granted the same rights as Thai. Thais do not like the fact that we are here if we do not embrace the Thai culture full heartedly, they merely only tolerate you because they can make money out of you. No wonder you dont like their ways.<br /> <br />If you want to turn this place into "little America", why did you come here in the first place? Why did you not retire to Texas? You are farang, and have no right to judge or interfere. That would be imperialism.<br />

I like your defense of this great nation. However nice it is , it is flawed in so many ways.

Who would want the same "rights" when it would mean throwing many rights away?

Would you feel like you had rights when you were not allowed to ask certain questions about certain things?

Is that something to be proud of? Not in my book it is not.

Did you know that farnags have far more rights.

Please forget this nonsense about not be able to own land here. That old chestnut should be put to bed at long last.

Any farang can own anything here and anyone who really thinks otherwise, buying into this nice little notion of " one has to be thai to own anything" is, like so many living in total denial.

Farang are becoming unpopular( according to you and some others, many would not agree with this) here because they make people ask questions about the state of things.

<br />555555 sheick <img src="style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="biggrin.gif" /><br /><br />I can not imagine that your post is anything other than a hoax, congrats, I almost bought it.<br /><br />If its not, i wonder from what country you were born form, and how you mind works, because your thinking seems an auwful lot more primitive than that of the fine people of this upstanding society of Thailand.<br /><br />The statesmen of many "developed" countries seek to improve the tolerance and acceptance of its' own citizens towards these minorities in their respective countries, and see Thailands' Bhuddist driven tolerance as a premium example of how we could achieve that.<br /><br />So if your post is not a joke, you better pack your firestones and stone axe, and move to an even deeper hole in the ground.<br /><br /><br />

Although the terms used were a little harsh-I wish it were a joke.

Unfortunatly the only joke is on thailand although at least this time there seem to be some

recogniton of the actual true state of this nation .

I have been away quite some time, but I am glad to see that at last some people ,local ones are starting to wake and ask questions about certain people and organisations that run the show.

Thailand is a country in denial.

Thailand is a country with so much potential, yet a really poor record of human rights, an almost laughable state of corruption, a very racist outlook towards, well, almost everyone including themselves

Perhaps with some more honest reflection there could be some improvement.

My wife has used Meliane from thailand but here in the US it's not available so she's now on YAZ. She would rather be on Meliane.

I was taking Mercilon21 for 6 years. (I was advised by my doctor)

First I was bringing them with me, then decided to try thai Mercilon21, fortunatelly it was the same as from my home!

One month didn't take the pills and as a result- my lovely baby!!!

After birth the doctor advised to use NuvaRing ( vaginal ring) by Organon, but I couldn't find it here. And as before, I brought some with me.

may I ask why? what were the differences. Can I not get just anything here?

hi

I will be in thailand for some time and am involved in a human rights group. I have been asked to visit some people in the jails here.

Can anyone offer me any advice on this as I have never done it in thailand before. Are the conditions that bad.

I have heard the storys from my friends which range from thailand being one of the worst in respects to how people are treated, to how it is not so bad thesedays.

What do others have to say ?

hi

I have just been semi "posted" here for a few months.English is not my native tongue by I can get by quite okay( or so I am told)

Can anyone tell me if there is any magic classes/groups/clubs in town?

I went to see the show in pattaya and saw a few locals in bangkok. I do not want to be rude but the skill

level was just not there. Not by a very long shot.

I love all sorts of magic,ellusionist, jay sankey, theory11, paul harris,greg wilson, etc, etc are the guys I love most.

I would just like to meet a few like minded people to practice swap tricks and storys with whilst I am here.

Please let me know

thanks

Hello

I'm about to undergo a bodyguard training course in the UK. Once I've completed this I need to apply for a licence which requires a criminal record check. However it states that if you've been out of the UK for 6 consecutive months you neeed to get a criminal record check from the country you resided in ie. Thailand.

Does anyone know what channels I would need to go through to do this? Something tells me it's going to be a hassle.

Any info would be appreciated-

Alan

its is all nonsens these sily demand for checks-easy to fabricate- they do not check and 101 ways to get around it

they do care who they teach and the only true BG coures are those run by the military

SF unit's,only people such as these could really protect someone

in fact, the best ones are run in SE asia in private

whilst one can learn a few skills on these walter mitty type 1 week things, please never think anyone could really provide any serious degree of protection, and no professinal company would ever hire from these sorts