Reflections As I Leave

[phetaroi]

Well friends, I have decided to end my one year (almost to the day) retirement in Thailand and return to the United States, where I will take up a new life and challenges in a new location (Colorado Springs) instead of my old home in Virginia. Last week was too much for me. I'm old(er) and want peace, and I'm not convinced that the old "mai pben rai" attitude is going to bring that to Thailand. I hope, of course, as I leave behind friends and loved ones, that Thailand can return to something like it has been for so long, while still improving the lives of all people.

I want to wish you all well. I know that some of us grated on each others' nerves from time to time, and I'm sure I'm guilty of doing that, as well. I also compliment several of you on your rather in-depth knowledge of Theravada Buddhism. Even when we've disagreed, I've often been impressed.

Overall, my experiences in this forum have been positive. Some of us have differed on various points, and I know I have been a bit persistent in questioning varying viewpoints.

As I prepare to reorient myself into the American lifestyle again, I have also decided on where to go spiritually...at least tentatively. I continue to resist the view that, for example, Buddhism is all "correct" and Christianity is all "incorrect", or for that matter any other religion. And so I will seek out some kind of bond between the two religions, look for similarities (as in "Living Buddha, Living Christ"), and attempt to sort out my thinking. I'll also probably get more of a taste of Mahayana Buddhism, because from my research thus far, the Buddhist groups in the Colorado Springs area are primarily of that group.

If I may contribute one final thought, for the benefit of all believers in Lord Buddha: Because most of us that post here are westerners, we came to Buddhism later in life and only because we were open-minded and willing to think outside of the box we came from. I hope that even those of you who are now firmly Theravada Buddhists will continue to be just as open-minded and out-of-the-box and not become, by accident, a fundamentalist Theravada Buddhist.

I may drop by from time to time, but at least for now I am more in need of putting Thailand behind me. For me it's a very, very sad ending to an otherwise very happy year.

My best to all of you.

Vincent

[Samuian]

Have a nice journey!

The internet is everywhere - so is TV!

Unless you have other reasons possible access shouldn't be one>

[Capealava]

I do not know you, but we are fellow dharma travelers. You may want to check out these zen centers in Colorado. They are affiliated to Joshu Sasaki Roshi- a 102 yr old Zen teacher from Japan. May or may not be a fit for you. Hard work, but he is the real thing.

Mountain Gazing Zen Center

15975 CR30

Dolores, CO 81321

(970) 882-2530

University Zen Center

115 South 42nd St.

Boulder, CO 80305

303-440-6553

[mauGR1]

Hi phetaroi, it's sad that you leave.

I for one, appreciated you asking endless questions, and i think Buddha would have liked you as a disciple.

Same as you, i'm constantly looking for similarities more than differences among various Religions, but i heed the Dalai Lama advice," born a Christian, live as a Christian".

If i may suggest you a good reading, try Max Heindel, a Christian Esoteric.(Hope i am not breaking the Forum rules now)

Not to be critic of your choices, but living in Bangkok may be hard for a researcher like you, riots or not.

If you come back to Thailand, try some other place where the air is cleaner and the lifestyle is less hectic.

I wish you All the Best, good luck brother.

[Xangsamhua]

Hi Phetaroi

I'm sorry you're leaving Thailand and the forum. Maybe after a while of putting Thailand behind you you might revisit us and keep us on our toes with your stimulating posts.

Some of the retreats on this webpage look promising, and one is in your area, I think. http://www.tnhtour.org/

My wife and I were just saying this morning: How can anyone be bored when there's so much to learn?

Take care and enjoy Colorado.

Xangsamhua

[rockyysdt]

Hi Vince.

Leaving Thailand won't be a problem.

It's not the country which binds us but the subject matter.

I myself live in Melbourne.

Stick around.

Don't worry about the differing views & personalities.

It's part of the fabric of life, & dare I say, part of our Khamma.

Also, I'll drink (non alcoholic of course) to avoiding fundamentalism & attachment.

No matter what others opinions might be, the most important thing the Buddha taught was to have personal experience through regular practice.

With personal experience you'll be able to answer your own questions.

In the mean time, here's to discussion & debate.

Rocky

[Brucenkhamen]

If you ever decide you're finished keeping away from all things Thai I think the teacher at this centre not far from where you'll be has a good reputation http://www.vipassanadhura.com/index.htm

[phetaroi]

If you ever decide you're finished keeping away from all things Thai I think the teacher at this centre not far from where you'll be has a good reputation http://www.vipassanadhura.com/index.htm

Hi Bruce, and thanks for the info. I know where Aurora is...just east of Denver and less than an hour from Colorado Springs.

It isn't that I am going to turn my back on all things Thai...including Buddhism. In fact, I am actually attempting to use Buddhism as a means of sorting all of this out in my mind. I am trying my best...and so far not doing very well at...to become unattached to what I am leaving behind. The most difficult is the person I will be leaving behind, but I can still make a difference in their life...just not in the day-to-day way I had hoped; so I must unattach my desire for that day-to-day relationship.

It's odd, but I'm not having much trouble unattaching myself from all else here in Thailand. It wasn't that I was particularly naive about Thailand and Thais. I was pretty cognizant of the warts before I came...not even sure I saw any new warts. But I think what has disappeared for me is the balance...another Buddhist concept. I would go out for the day and begin to get irritated over something in this culture...just for example, how inconvenient many things are. But I could say to myself, but on the other hand the everyday courtesies of the people make up for that, or but I just so enjoy walking around the temples and meeting people there, or but I love the food, or but...on and on. But since the smoke billowed through our soi the other day, those little things that provided the balance just sort of evaporated. And there are things that can balance my life for me...I think...in Colorado. Maybe things will work out in Thailand...but my pessimism for this country is now immense. And so, to live in peace -- which is important to me at age 60 -- I must leave. I must unattach myself and rebuild.

There will come a time when I will look back on many happy memories of Thailand. After all, I spent a year and 20 summers here. It will take me some time to heal. But even as I have been thinking through all the things I have faced and am facing, Buddhism is a part of me now...and I'm still working at how it fits into my life...or perhaps I should say how my life fits into Buddhism.

[sabaijai]

Good luck phetaroi. We've enjoyed having you here. I don't think any of our regular contributors are in any danger of becoming 'fundamentalist Theravada Buddhists.' But whatever labels we may to apply to others, as Buddhists of any stripe, we all know it's still anicca, anatta and dukkha. Best wishes in your practice and feel free to drop in anytime, even from Colorado.

[moe666]

Good luck on your move I know we had a bit of exchange on another thread but that is life. If you get south to Albuquerque there are several Thervada Wats here. Always remember peace is internal not external.

[IMA_FARANG]

Then good luck on your continuing journey.

A place is just a place...it is not a thing.

Remember what Bankei said, "If you can not find Buddha in your heart, then where do you propose to search for him?"

But I am sure you already know that well, so it doesn't need to be said, does it?

I would not worry too much about Thailand and it's future. What the future will be is what the future always will be. There have always been troubles and hard times. Everything changes. The wheel revolves. It has always been like that.

Just take the time to see (and hopefully understand) that underneath, at the heart of it all, the wheel does not revolve at all.

Underneath, there is that one THING, unchanging.

Take time to find that unchanging THING. No matter what your creed or practice is outside.

Good luck to you.

When the long road comes to a end, the traveler can rest at his or her destination. The road is then forgotten.

[eggomaniac]

Man, get yourself down to Taos, NM a once in awhile. You will SEE why.

I continue to resist the view that, for example, Buddhism is all "correct" and Christianity is all "incorrect", or for that matter any other religion. And so I will seek out some kind of bond between the two religions, look for similarities (as in "Living Buddha, Living Christ"), and attempt to sort out my thinking.

To the extent you want to adhere to Christ's guidance, most religions, with the exception of a few, ignore His teachings on the imperative nature of watching history unfold as to Daniel's prophesies from a balcony seat, instead of hearing about it as news headlines; the upcoming rebuilding of the Temple, for one example.

I, for one, have nearly fully and completely concluded that Buddha was a prophet of the same God with the vernacular for Asian dialects and traditions.

I don't abide that Buddhistism is atheist when it is written He conversed with Brahma.

[clinging to logic on that one]

may Vishnu guide your journey

[moe666]

There is a nice Hanuman temple in Taos. East Indian people from the rockie mountain region come for various festivals.

[phetaroi]

I would like to thank all of you for your kind good wishes. I arrived back in the States two days ago, have stayed the past two nights near LAX, and today will fly onto Colorado Springs...hopefully my new home.

In my previous post in this thread I said that I am not going to turn my back on all things Thai...including Buddhism. I remain committed to maintaining my attachment (oops, bad choice of word)...my communion with (oops, bad choice of word)...ah well, Buddhism will continue to be a part of me and my belief system. I will continue to visit this forum from time to time to continue the interesting discussions it's been an honor to be a part of over the past year or so.

I wish the very best for all of you who remain in Thailand. Maybe things will work out there, but my pessimism remains high. I was quite disappointed to read about the comprehensive plan the Thai government developed for restoring tourist confidence. Disappointed because I still see no comprehensive plan to solve the problems in the deep South, which have resulted in over 3,000 deaths by shootings, bombings, and even beheadings. Disappointed because although the PM says he has a plan for reconciliation, I see the same political games being played, and little (if any) transparency about his comprehensive plan for solving the divisions in Thai society.

Over the years I read a couple of books -- don't remember their titles now -- about how Buddhism must operate in modern Thai society. It's my impression that Buddhism in Thailand doesn't really address the issues that are deeply affecting the peace and stability of the nation at the moment. In another thread in the forum the question was asked, can Buddhism save Thailand? Since Buddhism is considered one of the pillars of Thai society, and since at least one of the other pillars seems inactive at the moment, the role of Buddhism must be strengthened, in my opinion. This relates very much to a theme that I have brought up before -- temples that are essentially closed most of the time. What do all of you feel the role of the local temple and Buddhism in general -- whether in Bangkok or elsewhere -- should be? Should Buddhism embrace some degree of activism, or should it remain (as I see it) rather passive. It is one thing to say you are a Buddhist nation, but what exactly does that mean?

I will close with an ironic story. When I arrived at LAX I breezed through passport check, but at customs was lucky enough to be randomly chosen for a complete baggage inspection. It began with us not being able to get my suitcase opened. As the agent tried working on the lock he started asking me very specific questions about the King and Princess Sirindhorn, did I visit Buddhist temples often, did I support the red shirts, etc. Clearly, he was fairly up on topics related to Thailand. It turned out his wife was an American Thai woman, although the agent had not yet visited Thailand. In the end my inspection turned out to be rather cursory and uneventful, but it was a surprising coincidence to have such a pleasant conversation about Thailand.

I'll be seeing you all in the threads! Stay well and safe and dedicated to your commitment to Buddhism.

Vincent

[eggomaniac]

sianara, your comments will be sorely missed.

[rockyysdt]

I would like to thank all of you for your kind good wishes. I arrived back in the States two days ago, have stayed the past two nights near LAX, and today will fly onto Colorado Springs...hopefully my new home.

Hi Vince.

One downside I can see is that you'll be paying considerably more for your favorite Thai dishes.

In terms of Buddhism, the positive news is that you'll be able to practice mindfulness wherever you are.

Enjoy your new environment.

R.

[Gladiator]

There are many roads to the same destination.

Peace Good health and Happiness to you