In search of One World?... On the wings of SriLankan
Airlines :
Buddhism, a way of life in Thailand
by Lionel Yodhasinghe, reporting from Bangkok
The evening is colourful in any townlet in Thailand as many Thais are
used to visit the temples in the evening. Many parents with their
children, after the hard day work take time in the evening to go to
temple and pay homage to The Triple Gem and seek the blessings of the
Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha.
Later, they switch to the markets adjacent to every temple for
shopping to buy the daily needs for the household. As the sun sets small
time businessmen in every temple premises put up their temporary trade
huts and display many varieties of food, clothing, toys and many other
consumer items at these market places, it is a common sight in Thailand.
The temple going of Thais thus continue till mid night and business
of trade stalls in these places as well as in other streets in the city
too goes on till midnight. People are free to walk across the city, as
the city environment is virtually safe even in the night in Thailand.
However police patrol streets in the city to prevent any crime or
snatch thieves and other hooligans in the city. The city buildings are
illuminated throughout the night adding more glamour to this tourist
city in this South East Asian city of Bangkok.
Thais practise Buddhism more as a way of life believing in Buddhism
brings them worldly things rather than solace in the future lives. To
gain such fortune, they make vows at temples and other places of divine
and wear trinkets embossed with replicas, Buddha statues and other
symbols related to Buddhism.
The younger generation in Thailand work hard. They are eager to earn
intending to make a better future. Thus they engage in business and do
other jobs in the city as well as in the provinces. As a result, many
are compelled to remain single, and they think of settling down in life
in their 40s.
Job, an employed youth in Jomthong Bangkok said that his first lover
ditched him now married another person as she found him financially
sounder. With a broken heart, Tob did not want to think about another
match. He said many Thai girls today act in the same way as they are
more concerned about money than anything else.
This has been a major reason for many village girls to migrate to
tourist areas in search of better-paid jobs.
Thai girls are shy, innocent and beautiful as their counterparts in
Sri Lanka. They treat men as guardians; the typical Asian values such as
hospitality and kindness are inherited by them. This could be one reason
for tourists' world over to choose Bangkok as their holiday destination,
and to seek hospitality of Thai women.
However, women in the provinces help their male counterparts to
thrive their farms. Agriculture is the main source of income in
Thailand; a lot of people are engaged in farming and agricultural
related activities. Farming is done in the modern way, and even village
farmers are doing quite well. Thai markets are full of local agro
products, fruits and vegetables which are testimony to thriving
agriculture in the country.
Bangkok Municipal authorities take extra care to keep the city clean
and as a result, the garbage disposal activities are maintained
regularly. City landscape with religious monuments, greenery and other
decoration catch the eye of any visitor. Every street in the city is
benefited with flowers and plants in pots.
However, some parts of Bangkok are still polluted due to the garbage
and other refuse gathered in canals and sewage lines This has caused a
severe health hazard in Bangkok, and the newspapers reported this week
that the dengue killer is rising in Bangkok hitting over 26,000 people
in the city. Therefore taking special care should be taken to protect
from mosquitoes when visiting Bangkok.
Suitable accommodation is a must in this regard as ordinary places
where facilities are lacking could expose any visitor to the killer
diseases such as dengue.
Visiting the outskirts of Thailand is a mesmerising experience. One
would see the vastness of Thailand; its hard working and simple people
when visiting the provinces. The majority of Thais do not speak English
but they are helpful and do not hesitate to assist you in directing you
to some place or a temple.
Another special feature in the city is vehicular traffic. Though
traffic is sometimes hectic as in Colombo, one would avoid such traffic
and save time provided he uses the paid roads, the highways. However,
people at wheels, despite his or her position and power, obey road rules
and discipline themselves very well. It is very rare to hear a vehicle
hooting in Bangkok. Reckless drivers and other road demons are
conspicuously absent in Bangkok as everybody patiently wait for their
turn.
Infrastructure development is another showpiece in Bangkok, and
high-rise buildings and fly-overs are eye-catching scenes in the city
and among them is Bangkok's latest showpiece, the King Rama VIII Bridge
built over the river Chao Phraya. This has been built in the form of a
triangle to facilitate vehicular traffic to enter and leave the city
from every direction.
Tourists vary from one visitor to the other. Some visit to Bangkok on
Buddhist pilgrimages as there are over 2000 temples in the city itself.
Some tourists go shopping and others in search of pleasure and
entertainment.
However, visitors should be careful of touts and others who
voluntarily offer their services. Public transport, train, bus or
metered taxies are safe. Threewheelers (Tuk Tuk) abound on the roads but
many believe that riding a Tuk Tuk would end in a peril where you lose
your every valuable article especially in the night.
People find time to come to temple and consult the monks in every
important occasion of their lives. Besides attending to daily religious
rites at the temple, the chief monk in any temple is busy counselling
his dayakas and advising them to solve their household problems.
Therefore the relationship between the temple and the layman is
closer and strong, and the monks are ready to visit any household at any
time of the day when they invite the monk, for dana, dhamma chanting or
giving blessings. Small children especially scouts come to temple early
morning and help the temple in its cleaning and other chores.
They learn the Buddhist way of life from childhood, and this training
and the company of the Buddhist monk and the temple educate them on
simplicity and disciplines them to lead a successful comfort life.
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