Those Little White Envelopes

[Iambabababor]

It seems that every couple of weeks, someone delivers a printed envelope to the house containing lists of names and requiring a donation to some wat or other. This is known as Tambol. Most times it is from some Wat that nobody has ever heard of, usually hundreds of kms away, and yet everyone feels obliged to slip in some money and return it to the person who originally delivered it.

Is this a typical Thai scam?

Does the wat really exist, and if so why collect cash from so far away. can't the locals pay what is required (if anything!)?

How much is paid for printing, delivery and collection, and what % if any does the Wat eventually get?

It amazes me how gullible the Thai people are. They willingly cough up every time, even though so many are up to their eyes in debt and have to beg food for the family. They will not check the credentials of the collectors, believing that nobody would steal from a wat or the Monks.

Surely time that this nonsense was regulated.

[sylviex]

I think I have seen these at work. I think the donors wai and appear to make a wish before handing the envelopes back. Is that what is going on ?

[Neeranam]

It seems that every couple of weeks, someone delivers a printed envelope to the house containing lists of names and requiring a donation to some wat or other. This is known as Tambol. Most times it is from some Wat that nobody has ever heard of, usually hundreds of kms away, and yet everyone feels obliged to slip in some money and return it to the person who originally delivered it.

Is this a typical Thai scam?

Does the wat really exist, and if so why collect cash from so far away. can't the locals pay what is required (if anything!)?

How much is paid for printing, delivery and collection, and what % if any does the Wat eventually get?

It amazes me how gullible the Thai people are. They willingly cough up every time, even though so many are up to their eyes in debt and have to beg food for the family. They will not check the credentials of the collectors, believing that nobody would steal from a wat or the Monks.

Surely time that this nonsense was regulated.

Simple - you don't understand Tamboon - don't give.

[sylviex]

Neeranam, can you explain it, pls. ?

[BossHogg]

Often the person dishing out the envelopes originates from the village where the Wat is. They will be making merit for themselves or family in their home town buy donating to the local temple.

[prakhonchai nick]

Often the person dishing out the envelopes originates from the village where the Wat is. They will be making merit for themselves or family in their home town buy donating to the local temple.

If as you suggest the person dishing out the envelopes is from where the Wat is, its a bit of a bloody cheek expecting all their new neighbours to chip in. By all means let them donate and gain merit, but don't expect everyone else to help in their merit making.

It would be far better if the Wats returned some of their massive donations to the needy instead of more gold plated temples and buying up more land to rent out at extortionate rates

[plachon]

What the OP is referring to is tam-boon or merit making to ease your lot in the next life/incarnation. It is totally up to you whether to give or not, but yes most of the temples are genuine, and most will spend money raised on construction projects.

This is not to be confused with the tambol or more correctly for pronunciation tambon, which means sub-district, the officials of which are also not above expecting the odd white envelope for doing their job. This transaction, unlike the first, is for easing your lot in this life and the short term.

Both are voluntary donations, but one is very much corruption and should be avoided if at all possible.

[ShakaIsuzu]

Often the person dishing out the envelopes originates from the village where the Wat is. They will be making merit for themselves or family in their home town buy donating to the local temple.

If as you suggest the person dishing out the envelopes is from where the Wat is, its a bit of a bloody cheek expecting all their new neighbours to chip in.

Well, you're entitled to that position.

Many people who do understand Thai culture and who are more in tune with it, don't think it's strange at all, and in fact a good thing to do.

You see it as an attempt to make you lose money.

I see it like Thais do: An OPPORTUNITY to gain merit, and do someting kind helping the person handing out envelopes.

Honestly, the more you embrace Thai culture the happier you will be.

[Farma]

I’ve also seen the wife and the staff reject some monks handing out these envelopes. When I enquired why they said they were fake monks.

[BossHogg]

Often the person dishing out the envelopes originates from the village where the Wat is. They will be making merit for themselves or family in their home town buy donating to the local temple.

If as you suggest the person dishing out the envelopes is from where the Wat is, its a bit of a bloody cheek expecting all their new neighbours to chip in. By all means let them donate and gain merit, but don't expect everyone else to help in their merit making.

It would be far better if the Wats returned some of their massive donations to the needy instead of more gold plated temples and buying up more land to rent out at extortionate rates

ah yes it would. A good example of Buddhism in Thailand though......

[Heng]

You're not obliged to put any specific amount in the envelopes. Whenever the envelopes come my way, I simply say that I only donate to a specific temple (kind of like saying "I gave at the office"), in this case Wat Dhammabucca and a few of its related temples actually, in San Antonio.

Or you can put in a 25 satang piece if you want, as it's totally what you're comfortable with.

[Neeranam]

Often the person dishing out the envelopes originates from the village where the Wat is. They will be making merit for themselves or family in their home town buy donating to the local temple.

If as you suggest the person dishing out the envelopes is from where the Wat is, its a bit of a bloody cheek expecting all their new neighbours to chip in.

Well, you're entitled to that position.

Many people who do understand Thai culture and who are more in tune with it, don't think it's strange at all, and in fact a good thing to do.

You see it as an attempt to make you lose money.

I see it like Thais do: An OPPORTUNITY to gain merit, and do someting kind helping the person handing out envelopes.

Honestly, the more you embrace Thai culture the happier you will be.

Well said

[Briggsy]

Encountered these envelopes often.

Recently a bus I was on stopped at the Krerng Kravia checkpoint not far from Thong Pha Phum in Kanjanaburi. The policeman handed out these envelopes to all the passengers except the male agricultural labourers and the foreigners. Dutifully everybody put money in the envelopes and handed them back. People near me were giving 10 baht. The vulgar thing was the way the policeman brazenly opened each envelope and examined how much the contribution was when he got each envelope back. Still, not my culture.

Got caught out in my early days when a colleague who came from Phrae was collecting for a temple there. There were suggested amounts. Managers got lumped in the 500 Baht band, Thai peers in the 100 Baht band. Since I am a foreigner, but not a manager, I was informed I was in the 500 Baht band. Being new to Thailand way back then and not really understanding what was going on, I just said "Yeah yeah....." not really paying attention. I was pretty shocked when my name was shown to me on a list of donors a week later and an insistent demand for 500 Baht was made. I paid to keep the peace. Would know better nowadays.

[toptuan]

Or, you can simply say: "Kah toaht, mai pben sassana poot." or "I'm sorry, I'm not Buddhist." They look at your farang face and with a sudden recognition that everyone in the world is not a Buddhist (they really do forget), they smile and go their way.

[chanchao]

It has nothing to do with being Buddhist or not.

But hey, if you need an excuse and it works for you then it'll send a clear message.

[toptuan]

It has nothing to do with being Buddhist or not.

But hey, if you need an excuse and it works for you then it'll send a clear message.

If I was a Muslim, I wouldn't ask a Buddhist to help me make merit at his/her expense by asking for their alms for me to turn around and give to the poor, thereby gaining merit.

There's the connection, and the Thai people "get it."

And, yup, it works.

[Kf6vci]

It caused some financial strain to my gf, it's so often and she said she often puts in a 100 Baht note when she is barely making 750 a day! ** It's a different culture, but at LAX (Los Angeles Airport) some crooks collect donations and one of them approached me to sell me a lot of German coins. If only one could see a person's heart and mind! Sometimes the amounts get high and one wonders... Giving directly, at a wat, might be better. (Q: will the poor benefit from this or is it strictly for the wat's construction etc. and maybe to feed the stray animals ?)

[sbk]

I agree with toptuan, it does have to do with being Buddhist, nobody asks my Muslim neighbors to tam-boon and they most certainly do not donate to any Wat.

That said, someone hit my Buddhist husband up for money for a Wat the other day(not our local Wat, in fact not even a Wat on the island) and he said no, that he donates to our local Wat.

[chanchao]

Also, guess what: The AMOUNT you put in is actually UP TO YOU. The idea is that you put in what you feel you can afford. If it's someone I'm not very close to and I never heard of the temple or the event, then I put in 20 baht. I honestly can spare 20 baht, it's like tip-money, and still you feel you're making merit and helping someone, which IS appreciated.

If it's a relative or some cause that's closer to me I might put in more, but almost always when some collegue comes to me I put in 20 baht.

How big an issue is that that it even needs pondering over?

[chanchao]

And, sometimes when I notice those 'money trees' at shops or pubs and the like, you can put some money in it. I do this especially at tiny shops where you never tip money... At fancy 'Farlang' restaurants people tip 20-50-100 baht and it's expected.. But actually I buy fried rice at the shop around the corner a lot more, and tips aren't expected or required.

But guess what, the lady makes STELLAR fried rice (etc) , as good as any fancy restaurant I'd visit.

So when she's got a couple of bamboo sticks out with 20-50 baht bills in them, or if she'd do the envelope thing, then YOU BET I'd add my 20-50-100 baht's worth.

Ok so you're not a Buddhist. I'm not a Buddhist either, but I do like to think of myself as part of society. And yes, like anywhere, doing your part in society gains you rewards 10-fold the minor monetary act you chipped in.

Edited November 19, 2007 by chanchao

[difuso]

Having vaguely remembered reading this topic a while ago I have returned today to refresh myself with this Tamboon thing.

The reason being the girlfriend informing me today that I have to furnish 20,000 baht next week for this Tamboon. Failure to do so will mean that Buddha will not come and that means no good luck.

Now where did I read about a fleece.

[Zpete]

Often the person dishing out the envelopes originates from the village where the Wat is. They will be making merit for themselves or family in their home town buy donating to the local temple.

If as you suggest the person dishing out the envelopes is from where the Wat is, its a bit of a bloody cheek expecting all their new neighbours to chip in. By all means let them donate and gain merit, but don't expect everyone else to help in their merit making.

It would be far better if the Wats returned some of their massive donations to the needy instead of more gold plated temples and buying up more land to rent out at extortionate rates

As practiced by all religions.

They prey on peoples fear of the unknown.

More ya give, betta ya be in the afterlife, up there, down there...... where eva.