Are Thai Ghosts/spirits Different ?

[Neeranam]

Most Thais I know, especially kids, but many adults, believe that ghosts/spirits can hurt them physically. In the West, we believe they can't as they are, of course non-physical.

What is the difference?

[Payboy]

Same same - but different.

[chiangmaikelly]

We don't believe that at all. Speak for yourself. I still watch out for the Headless horseman, hound of the Baskervilles, tinkerbelle, Peter pan, Santa and Leprechauns. Some of us are Irish you know.

[trainman34014]

66 and still waiting to see one. When and if that happens I'll let you know if it wanted to hurt me. It's all in peoples minds, just like all these High So Chinese women that so many are married to....it seems !!

[h90]

In the west most people know that there are no ghosts/spirits.

[turboturtle]

In the west most people know that there are no ghosts/spirits.

I've seen the white pale hand of my grandma rise from my bedside with the lights on in my room at age 7, so I certainly do believe in Ghosts because I've had many experiences. Spirits usually have a positive connotation moreso than ghosts, but virtually the same meaning...

[rattler]

There is no difference both exist in the fantasy of the believer only.

[BigJohnnyBKK]

Many in the west believe in ghosts, and believe that they can cause us harm (or in some cases help us), even physically.

There is certainly a huge language gap involved in this topic, since most westerners dismiss these concepts so quickly they haven't even invented words to allow for cross-language discussions - as in the world of alien fruits mangosteen, rambutan etc.

My understanding is that most of the huge menagerie of supernatural beings in Thai culture are seen as physical, which do have analogues in our own cultures - leprechauns as above, also the Abominable Snowman, Nessie etc.

Think X-Files more than the more spiritual Casper-style ghosts.

I try to take a scientific POV to all this, open-minded but requiring evidence. And realize that my own brain and sensory organs create illusory views of reality all the time.

However I also believe that the human mind has powers not yet detected/confirmed by mainstream science, and that much phenomena is actually manifested as a result of intensely-felt shared beliefs by groups of people.

So to the extent any of these phenomena are "actually real" whatever that means, I think the manifestations are different because the cultural beliefs are different rather than the other way around.

To just dismiss everything that hasn't yet been proven by mainstream science as impossible is very unscientific. In two hundred years science will look back upon our current state of knowledge with the same sense of superior disdain, as we now look upon using leeches in medicine. And of course close-minded people will believe then just as much as now that we currently know it all.

[DP25]

In the west most people know that there are no ghosts/spirits.

I'm not sure what the situation in Europe is but the majority of Americans still believe in god and an afterlife and the spirits that go along with that.

[chiangmaikelly]

In the west most people know that there are no ghosts/spirits.

There are a lot of people lighting a lot of candles. Are you sure?

[krisb]

Gee it doesnt take long for threads to start up again does it?

[uptheos]

Gee it doesnt take long for threads to start up again does it?

Eerie eh.......maybe it's Halloween syndrome?

[chiangmaikelly]

Gee it doesnt take long for threads to start up again does it?

Eerie eh.......maybe it's Halloween syndrome?

Is there a frog in Thailand that can blind a person with it's pee?

[ravip]

Well... here's what some people say... Never seem one todate!

http://www.cbsnews.com/2100-500160_162-994766.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/talking_point/3046389.stm

http://www.hauntedhappenings.co.uk/

[h90]

In the west most people know that there are no ghosts/spirits.

I'm not sure what the situation in Europe is but the majority of Americans still believe in god and an afterlife and the spirits that go along with that.

Well you beat me with that.....but at least they don't see them anymore (mostly).....But yes you are right and I am wrong....same same

[h90]

In the west most people know that there are no ghosts/spirits.

I've seen the white pale hand of my grandma rise from my bedside with the lights on in my room at age 7, so I certainly do believe in Ghosts because I've had many experiences. Spirits usually have a positive connotation moreso than ghosts, but virtually the same meaning...

yes with 7. When I was a child I had also an active fantasy.

[BigJohnnyBKK]

Anyone who claims to directly perceive true reality is kidding themselves.

Most of what we perceive as reality is largely a construction of our very selective and imperfect brains based on input from our very limited sensory organs as dictated by the needs of biological evolution - and even then interpreted by our very fragmentary understanding of the universe.

The story of the six blind men and the elephant, or Plato's allegory of the cave comes to mind.

Do you believe in a stable monetary system designed by wise men with the good of the common people in mind?

Just as much a fantasy as "Phee Bawp" - for a bit of fun shout out loud "I don't believe in Phee Bawp!" when you're out at night with a Thai and watch their reaction 8-)

[Payboy]

but many adults, believe that ghosts/spirits can hurt them physically

The violent ghosts in Thailand are all Burmese or Khmer, I think.

[uptheos]

If there were fairies instead of spirits at the bottom of the garden, maybe they would at least eat some of the food left out for them.

[KarenBravo]

In two hundred years science will look back upon our current state of knowledge with the same sense of superior disdain, as we now look upon using leeches in medicine.

Yet we are now using leeches in the 21st century. They are used to help heal skin grafts. They are also used for their blood anti-coagulant properties when re-attaching or, grafting on body parts.

PS. Belief in ghosts and spirits is for the weak-minded and superstitious.

[Neeranam]

PS. Belief in ghosts and spirits is for the weak-minded and superstitious.

Weak-minded? Don't make me laugh!

[Tywais]

[KarenBravo]

PS. Belief in ghosts and spirits is for the weak-minded and superstitious.

Weak-minded? Don't make me laugh!

.......and the gullible.

[BigJohnnyBKK]

Yet we are now using leeches in the 21st century. They are used to help heal skin grafts. They are also used for their blood anti-coagulant properties when re-attaching or, grafting on body parts.

Well there you go, shows that my disbelief in leeches was just an ignorant superstition.

[KarenBravo]

Yet we are now using leeches in the 21st century. They are used to help heal skin grafts. They are also used for their blood anti-coagulant properties when re-attaching or, grafting on body parts.

Well there you go, shows that my disbelief in leeches was just an ignorant superstition.

Not a single shred of evidence has been seen for the existence of ghosts. Might as well believe in real witches, hob-goblins and father Xmas.

[BigJohnnyBKK]

Not a single shred of evidence has been seen for the existence of ghosts. Might as well believe in real witches, hob-goblins and father Xmas.

Well I'm certainly not arguing in favor of believing in any particular non-mainstream phenomenon.

My point is simply to advocate for the scientific spirit of keeping an open mind so that you can do your best to accurately interpret new incoming data and thus be in a better position to revise your previously mistaken beliefs.

Unless you don't mind being stuck behind the curve when the next big paradigm shift comes along.

BTW the use of the passive tense in "not a single shred of evidence has been seen" begs the question "by whom"?

Many many professional scientists believe in many many things they don't have hard proof for, why should the rest of us be any different?

[Neeranam]

PS. Belief in ghosts and spirits is for the weak-minded and superstitious.

Weak-minded? Don't make me laugh!

.......and the gullible.

So, to take one example of someone I admire - the Dalai Lama - is he weak-minded or gullible, according to your enlightened self?

[KarenBravo]

PS. Belief in ghosts and spirits is for the weak-minded and superstitious.

Weak-minded? Don't make me laugh!

.......and the gullible.

So, to take one example of someone I admire - the Dalai Lama - is he weak-minded or gullible, according to your enlightened self?

Not gullible, but, totally programmed by his upbringing. Reincarnation is the same as ghosts. Imaginary.

[KarenBravo]

Not a single shred of evidence has been seen for the existence of ghosts. Might as well believe in real witches, hob-goblins and father Xmas.

Well I'm certainly not arguing in favor of believing in any particular non-mainstream phenomenon.

My point is simply to advocate for the scientific spirit of keeping an open mind so that you can do your best to accurately interpret new incoming data and thus be in a better position to revise your previously mistaken beliefs.

Unless you don't mind being stuck behind the curve when the next big paradigm shift comes along.

BTW the use of the passive tense in "not a single shred of evidence has been seen" begs the question "by whom"?

Many many professional scientists believe in many many things they don't have hard proof for, why should the rest of us be any different?

Well, in that case, let's keep an open mind on witches, hob-goblins and father Xmas, too. Might as well chuck in the Flying Spaghetti Monster whilst we're at it.

[Neeranam]

Not gullible, but, totally programmed by his upbringing. Reincarnation is the same as ghosts. Imaginary.

lol

What about Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Theresa?