In Theraveda Buddhism as believed in Thailand, Burma and Sri Lanka mainly, Buddha is the last enlightend being to go to Niverna with no more of this suffering being any more.
That’s simply not true. Theravada argues for the continued existence of Arhants. Any human being can achieve arhanthood, and an arhant, by definition, has achieved nirvana.
In Theraveda Buddhism as believed in Thailand, Burma and Sri Lanka mainly, Buddha is the last enlightend being to go to Niverna with no more of this suffering being any more.
In Mahayana as is the one Dalai lama heads in Tibet, Korea, China, etc., there is living Buddha and they do reincarnate and there is hierarchy of the status of the order of priest as well.
Plus ca change, plus ca reste meme chose. Compound this with the ongoing land grabbing and a fundamental disregard for whatever rights the Cambodian people or environment have that get in the way of Hun Sen’s ability to enrich himself, and you have a situation which Obama has no business legitimating through his presence.
Apparent kidnapping of three soldiers, just like the tens of thousands killed in Kachin Land, attracts little or no interest by any one.
Apart from human tragedy for the three who will definately be ill-treated and may be killed in time-honoured fashion, and angusih of their dependents and the loves ones, and the people who are compelled to commit such heinous crime,it is too sad that the Human Rights Screaming Rohingya advocates of Rohingya descent or mostly White descent, found no voice to air for this particular tragedy.
worse, that was totally expected! Imagine that “Champion of Human Rights” Chris Lewa telling off the kidnappers!
But the total indifference of the people of Burma and those loud, loud monks is astounding.
I normally agree with your analysis and comments on this blog. However, concerning your statement that Thais believe the King is an incarnation of the Buddha is not correct. Thais know and understand the concept of “nirvana” which teaches that when one reaches this state one is no longer subject to the cycle of life and death-the Buddha cannot be reincarnated. Thais do believe that the King may be a reincarnation of Shiva or Indra (Pha Ind or Pha Isuan). This belief is pre-buddhist from the Khmer-Indo Hindu culture. Concerning an enlightenment, it is a matter of perspective. I consider myself as an enlightened individual (having or showing a rational, modern, and well-informed outlook). No, I am not a “Miss know it all” nor do I think of myself as “Miss perfect.” There seems to be a general hopelessness for the Thai populace among the commentators of this blog. This quote should remind us that there is hope among the Thais:”Not all those who wander are lost.”
Can you say a bit more about how a product gets to claim it’s halal? Does the factory making toothpaste just need an imam or a halal organization to come and bless the factory or check on processes now and then? Or does the whole supply chain need to be certified?
Ok, toothpaste conceivably could be swallowed. And I guess bone china and crockery gets awfully close to food. Is there a long, until recently-hidden history of non-edible goods being considered halal?
And makeup? What’s the rationale and where did it originate? Again, an imam or a halal organization has to certify that it contains no non-halal animal ingredients? Are all the international cosmetic brands adopting this practice? Or are there special halal brands?
Sam Harris is a neuroscientist and philosopher who has published a few books on the neuroscience of religious experience. He tends to be critical of religion, but he is especially critical of the Abrahamic faiths as ideologies to maintain power.
Extrajudicial Khmer death squads sanctioned by the ruling Cambodian People’s Party eh?Should we next expect Cambodian PM Hun Sen angrily disavowing “the UN as not his mother?”
(the declaration “the UN is not my father” had already been patented by Hun Sen’s pal Thaksin)
To my knowledge, the Thai word for *guest*
is *khaek* . . . but at times used derisively to refer to Thais of South Asia descent, particulary Sikhs, who found refuge in the kingdom after an appeal by Nehru following the partition of India and Pakistan.
The struggling refugees’ turned to money-lending and drew much scorn. Thus, they became *kha–ek*.
I’ve also known Thais to refer to southern Malays as *Abung* (brother).
2. The appearance of “Buddhist Fury” raises some very interesting questions. Does the book seek to contribute to the “global studies” agenda? To enriching our understanding of modern Thailand? Does it seek to do both at once? Is that latter objective even possible? What will specialists on Buddhism, serious specialists, make of the book? To judge from what one finds in Prof Rackett’s review, it is difficult to accept the book’s apparent emphasis on racialism. One has to wonder, that is, if the author is not over-reaching, relative to his data, offering that emphasis. Best that I leave my comments at these for now.
Wow. I am trying to think of just one counter example from news stories of the past 8 years, one counter argument? Anybody? I am not convinced that khaek = skin color, but that is a very minor quibble. And I think I know people who were khaek and became Thai, but I know too that not everybody thought they had. This synopsis of Buddhism and the South rings true.
Stu-art – wot’s all this “not Asian” bizo, mate?
Are ya some Down South drongo ?
“10 hours” mate !! It’s ONE hour here from Darwin to Dili. An’ last time I gave it a geeza, ET was “part ov Asia”.
Wot’s with it with you drongos Down South ? Here in Darwin – I can fly to Bali, in two and a half hours – that’s Asia, i’n it ? ”
Singa’s only a few banana’s more.
“10 hours mate” – ya oughta get a life !!
If one sincerely seeks for the truth and be fair to our fellow citizens and our partners in East Malaysia, one would find the rightful answer.
You may have your Syariah courts and they have their Native courts too. In the end, it is best to have a system which is neutral to religion and fair to all.
[…] Chaisit Shinawatra, now an adviser to Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra (see the family tree), has apparently decided to demonstrate the continuing splits in the military by ticked off by […]
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The power of spirits
In Theraveda Buddhism as believed in Thailand, Burma and Sri Lanka mainly, Buddha is the last enlightend being to go to Niverna with no more of this suffering being any more.
That’s simply not true. Theravada argues for the continued existence of Arhants. Any human being can achieve arhanthood, and an arhant, by definition, has achieved nirvana.
The power of spirits
Simple intersession by eavesdropper.
In Theraveda Buddhism as believed in Thailand, Burma and Sri Lanka mainly, Buddha is the last enlightend being to go to Niverna with no more of this suffering being any more.
In Mahayana as is the one Dalai lama heads in Tibet, Korea, China, etc., there is living Buddha and they do reincarnate and there is hierarchy of the status of the order of priest as well.
Cambodia’s death squads
Plus ca change, plus ca reste meme chose. Compound this with the ongoing land grabbing and a fundamental disregard for whatever rights the Cambodian people or environment have that get in the way of Hun Sen’s ability to enrich himself, and you have a situation which Obama has no business legitimating through his presence.
Kachin affair is a Bamar affair
Apparent kidnapping of three soldiers, just like the tens of thousands killed in Kachin Land, attracts little or no interest by any one.
Apart from human tragedy for the three who will definately be ill-treated and may be killed in time-honoured fashion, and angusih of their dependents and the loves ones, and the people who are compelled to commit such heinous crime,it is too sad that the Human Rights Screaming Rohingya advocates of Rohingya descent or mostly White descent, found no voice to air for this particular tragedy.
worse, that was totally expected! Imagine that “Champion of Human Rights” Chris Lewa telling off the kidnappers!
But the total indifference of the people of Burma and those loud, loud monks is astounding.
The power of spirits
Hi Annie,
I normally agree with your analysis and comments on this blog. However, concerning your statement that Thais believe the King is an incarnation of the Buddha is not correct. Thais know and understand the concept of “nirvana” which teaches that when one reaches this state one is no longer subject to the cycle of life and death-the Buddha cannot be reincarnated. Thais do believe that the King may be a reincarnation of Shiva or Indra (Pha Ind or Pha Isuan). This belief is pre-buddhist from the Khmer-Indo Hindu culture. Concerning an enlightenment, it is a matter of perspective. I consider myself as an enlightened individual (having or showing a rational, modern, and well-informed outlook). No, I am not a “Miss know it all” nor do I think of myself as “Miss perfect.” There seems to be a general hopelessness for the Thai populace among the commentators of this blog. This quote should remind us that there is hope among the Thais:”Not all those who wander are lost.”
Malaysia’s commodified Islam
Alicia,
Can you say a bit more about how a product gets to claim it’s halal? Does the factory making toothpaste just need an imam or a halal organization to come and bless the factory or check on processes now and then? Or does the whole supply chain need to be certified?
Ok, toothpaste conceivably could be swallowed. And I guess bone china and crockery gets awfully close to food. Is there a long, until recently-hidden history of non-edible goods being considered halal?
And makeup? What’s the rationale and where did it originate? Again, an imam or a halal organization has to certify that it contains no non-halal animal ingredients? Are all the international cosmetic brands adopting this practice? Or are there special halal brands?
How can beer ever be considered halal?
Review of Buddhist Fury
Sam Harris is a neuroscientist and philosopher who has published a few books on the neuroscience of religious experience. He tends to be critical of religion, but he is especially critical of the Abrahamic faiths as ideologies to maintain power.
Review of Buddhist Fury
I expect they would agree on most things.
Indeed, that’s why I think it would be every interesting to see where they disagree and why.
Review of Buddhist Fury
1. Sam Harris
Author and “New Atheist”
The End of Faith is brilliant, but seemed, to me, to be his peak. He’s not super-relevant to this thread,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Harris_(author)
Cambodia’s death squads
Extrajudicial Khmer death squads sanctioned by the ruling Cambodian People’s Party eh?Should we next expect Cambodian PM Hun Sen angrily disavowing “the UN as not his mother?”
(the declaration “the UN is not my father” had already been patented by Hun Sen’s pal Thaksin)
Review of Buddhist Fury
If the book is as incomprehensible as the review, I doubt it will get the author into any trouble.
Review of Buddhist Fury
To my knowledge, the Thai word for *guest*
is *khaek* . . . but at times used derisively to refer to Thais of South Asia descent, particulary Sikhs, who found refuge in the kingdom after an appeal by Nehru following the partition of India and Pakistan.
The struggling refugees’ turned to money-lending and drew much scorn. Thus, they became *kha–ek*.
I’ve also known Thais to refer to southern Malays as *Abung* (brother).
Review of Buddhist Fury
1. Who is Sam Harris?
2. The appearance of “Buddhist Fury” raises some very interesting questions. Does the book seek to contribute to the “global studies” agenda? To enriching our understanding of modern Thailand? Does it seek to do both at once? Is that latter objective even possible? What will specialists on Buddhism, serious specialists, make of the book? To judge from what one finds in Prof Rackett’s review, it is difficult to accept the book’s apparent emphasis on racialism. One has to wonder, that is, if the author is not over-reaching, relative to his data, offering that emphasis. Best that I leave my comments at these for now.
Review of Buddhist Fury
I expect they would agree on most things.
Religion as an excuse for enforcing authority is pretty much pure Sam Harris.
Review of Buddhist Fury
I’d love to see a debate between Jerryson and Sam Harris.
Review of Buddhist Fury
Wow. I am trying to think of just one counter example from news stories of the past 8 years, one counter argument? Anybody? I am not convinced that khaek = skin color, but that is a very minor quibble. And I think I know people who were khaek and became Thai, but I know too that not everybody thought they had. This synopsis of Buddhism and the South rings true.
Lost in Asia?
Stu-art – wot’s all this “not Asian” bizo, mate?
Are ya some Down South drongo ?
“10 hours” mate !! It’s ONE hour here from Darwin to Dili. An’ last time I gave it a geeza, ET was “part ov Asia”.
Wot’s with it with you drongos Down South ? Here in Darwin – I can fly to Bali, in two and a half hours – that’s Asia, i’n it ? ”
Singa’s only a few banana’s more.
“10 hours mate” – ya oughta get a life !!
Once a Muslim, always a Muslim
Dr Marzuki should read the blog post titled “Secular or non-secular?” by Art Harun at http://art-harun.blogspot.com/2012/11/secular-or-non-secularwhat-history.html before deciding whether Malaya and then Malaysia was meant to be a Secular State.
If one sincerely seeks for the truth and be fair to our fellow citizens and our partners in East Malaysia, one would find the rightful answer.
You may have your Syariah courts and they have their Native courts too. In the end, it is best to have a system which is neutral to religion and fair to all.
Civil war and Naypyidaw
When Plan B talks in his sleep, it’s, “Blame the West. Blame the West”.
The Shinawatra family tree
[…] Chaisit Shinawatra, now an adviser to Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra (see the family tree), has apparently decided to demonstrate the continuing splits in the military by ticked off by […]