Buddhism in Thailand

Buddhism in Thailand Buddhism is the national religion of Thailand. About 95% of Thai citizens are Buddhists. For them it is a way of life. Buddhism began with the teachings of a man called Siddhartha Gautama who lived in India about 2,500 years ago. (The Thai year is currently 2542 which dates from the time of the Buddha.) The Buddha knew from his own experience that happiness does not come from great luxury nor from great hardship. He taught people to follow a Middle Path between those two extremes. By following this path people could overcome greed and desire, and the unhappiness they caused, and lead wiser, more caring lives. Buddhists believe that it is up to each person to take responsibility for his or actions and to realise the truth for themselves. If they act wisely and well in accordance with the Buddha's teachings, they can live happier and more fulfilled lives. Buddhists do not believe in an all-powerful God who created the world. Neither is the Buddha worshiped as a god, but as a human being who gained enlightenment. Buddhists try to follow his good example. They make five promises called Precepts: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Not to harm or kill any living things Not to steal or take anything that is not freely given To control sexual desire Not to tell lies Not to drink or take drugs Buddhists often worship in their own homes at a shrine with a Buddha image prominently placed. Many also visit temples on important religious days or their birthdays to chant, make offerings and listen to sermons. Links for more Information o o o o Visiting a Temple - what do people do when they visit a temple. I was a Novice Monk - a student becomes a novice on the death of his grandfather. Daily Routine at a Temple - monks are only allowed to eat meals in the morning. Life of a Temple Boy - up-country some boys receive their schooling at the temple. Daily Routine at a Temple Two hours before the sun appears on the eastern horizon the pealing of the temple bell signals the time, 4 a.m. In the kuti the monks, having spent the night on a thin mattress under a plain cotton blanket, open their eyes and rise from sleep to start the day. The Buddha said that four hours sleep should be enough for a monk, but nowadays monks generally sleep at least six hours, and when the bell wakes them, there is no hesitation about rising. The bell also awakens the dogs and cats that have been taken to the monastery by people who no longer want or can afford to keep them as pets, and who know that the monks will feed them and take care of them. (There is hardly a monastery in Thailand that does not have its resident "temple" dogs and cats.) The monks now perform their morning ablutions and don their outer robes. They kneel before the Buddha images in their kuti and pay homage to the Buddha. Then, after whatever housekeeping may be required in and around their lodgings, the monks do their morning meditations, some sitting in their kuti or just in front of them, in the half-lotus position, others practicing the walking forms of meditation. When the pre-dawn darkness is dispelled by morning light, the monk leaves the monastery grounds to begin their pindapata, their food-gathering rounds. He walks silently, eyes downcast, barefoot, along the lanes and streets of the adjacent neighbourhood. He carries his alms bowl, often suspended by a sling across one shoulder. He stops only when he is respectfully and quietly addressed by a layperson waiting at the side of the road to place food offerings in his bowl. It is an important part of Buddhist belief that one earns merit by providing food (and other necessities) to the monks. Laypersons offer the monks ready-toeat food of the best quality, such as: fragrant rice or sticky rice, barbecued chicken, pork, fish, curries, soups, as well as cartons of milk, fruit juices, hardboiled eggs, cakes, cookies, fruits and candies. Some layperson offer food, sometimes along with flowers, every morning. Some do so only on special occasions, such as birthdays or anniversaries of the deaths of close relatives or loved ones. By 7.30 a.m. the monks have usually completed their rounds. They return to the monastery with (usually) full bowls. Always food is shared with the dek wat, the temple boys who live at the monastery and assist the monks in their housekeeping, in care of the grounds and in running errands. And food is shared with the temple dogs and cats, as well as with anybody else who happens to be around at meal-time. After breakfast, the monks resume their meditations, or do their morning chanting, or, in the case of the young novice monks, attend classes in Buddhist intruction, or spend their time reading, or even taking a short nap. At approximately 11 a.m., the monks eat their second meal, finishing it, as prescribed, before noon. This will be their last meal of the day, but they are allowed to have liquid refreshments, important to their well-being in the hot climate. Some monks only take one meal a day. In the afternoon, friends and relatives may come to visit, but they do not excessively prolong their visit lest they intrude on the monk's time of solitary meditation, or on his attendance at classes. If not attending classes, monks may read Dhamma on their own or memorise and practice the many chants which are so important to monastic life. At 5 p.m., the temple bell peals again, this time to summon the monks to evening devotions at the vihara, after which new and younger monks often attend formal or informal instructional classes. Then all monks retire to their kuti for further meditation before going to sleep. Some things will be different in other temples. Some abbots allow their monks to watch t.v. or listen to music on their radios and cassette players and even smoke. Others strictly forbid such activities. Some insist on regular hours of meditation. Some insist on attendance at classes and at twice-daily worship services. Information was mainly taken from 'The Monastic Life' by Gerald Roscoe and published by Asia Books. I was a Novice Monk by Nattawud Daoruang When my grandfather died, I ordained as a nehn or novice monk. In Thai this is called buat nah fai which means ordination in front of fire. Thai people believe when they die they will go to paradise by holding on to a monk's robe. So I became a monk to help my grandfather go to paradise. My grandfather was cremated about seven days after I became a monk. Most boys are monks for only one or two days. But I was a novice monk for a month because it was the school holidays. The picture to the right shows my younger brother who went home the same day. When I first heard I was going to be a monk I felt a little scared. But later I was more happy about it. Before the ordination ceremony I had to learn a lot of things. For example the 10 Precepts: don't kill, steal, have sex, lie, drink beer and wine, eat after midday, sing and dance, wear hats or watches, sleep on a soft bed and accept a lot of money. I had to learn this in Pali which is an old language and very difficult to say. Older monks have to learn and keep 227 Precepts. The big day for me was when I was ordained. I felt scared and excited. I went to the temple with my family and relations. First thing they did was shave off my hair and my eyebrows. Everyone took turns to cut a piece. Then a monk shaved off all of my hair. We then went to the main chapel for the ordination ceremony. During the ceremony the monk said some things to me and I repeated them in Pali. I did not understand the words I was using. I also had to say the 10 Precepts. Then I was taken outside to change into the monk's robes. A monk helped me put on the robe because it was difficult for me to do. Then we went back in to finish the ceremony. Afterwards, the monk took me with my parents to the place where I was going to sleep. In Thai it is called kuti. Mine was a little wooden building with three rooms. I shared it with two monks, Phra Noo and Phra Mongkhon. Upstairs were two bedrooms and the living room was downstairs. Phra Mongkhon slept downstairs. There was a t.v. (with cable t.v.), play station, radio, bookshelves, fridge, sink, kettle and clock. I was very surprised when I saw the monks playing games on the Play Station. My bed was a thin mattress on the floor and a pillow. Outside was a bathroom and a toilet. My parents didn't stay long and I was soon alone. I felt a little scared but the monks were kind to me. We played some games and then I went to bed at about 9 p.m. I was very hungry because we are not allowed to eat after noon. On the first day, the monks woke me up at 5.00 a.m. They told me to go and take a bath and put on my robes. We then had to meditate inside our kuti. I had never done this before, so they had to show me what to do. I sat down cross-legged and closed my eyes. I then repeated after the monk in Pali. I didn't understand the words at the time, but Phra Noo told me the meaning later. Meditation helps you feel calm. We did this for about 30 minutes. At about 6 o'clock we left the temple for pindapata. This is when monks go walking around the village for alms-giving. I went with Phra Noo and a dek wat, a temple boy who came to help carry the food. Phra Mongkhon went a different way. We walked down the same roads everyday. We stopped many times for people to give us food and drink. They waited outside their house for us and then called us to come over. When they gave the food to us we were not allowed to say "thank you". When people give to the monks it is called tam bun. They do this to make merit. We say a blessing to them and then go on walking down the road. We didn't carry the food ourselves, we gave it to the dek wat. After about one hour our alms bowls and four cloth bags were very full. Back at the temple, we chose which food we wanted to eat for breakfast and lunch. We then ate whilst the dek wat cleaned our kuti. After we had finished, the dek wat ate his share. Sometimes he gave some to the dogs and cats that lived in the temple. The dek wat also had to wash the dishes. I watched t.v., played video games and slept for a while. We had lunch at about 11.30 a.m. All monks have to finish eating before midday. We are not allowed to eat in the afternoon and evening, but we can drink milk. Most days were the same. I watched t.v., played video games, listened to the radio and read a cartoon book. Sometimes I went out to a local shop to buy more cartoon books. If I went out in the morning I sometimes bought a snack to eat. But I was not allowed to do that in the afternoon. Sometimes my parents came to visit me in the morning. They gave me food for breakfast and lunch. On those days I did not go out into the village. My parents had to wai me, which is how we show respect in Thai. I felt shy because usually I wai my parents when I go to school and when I come back home. But this time they had to wai me because I was a novice monk. I was not allowed to wai them back. To wai, you put your hands together up to your chest and then bow your head down. In the evenings, I usually took a bath at about 8 p.m. Then I meditated with Phra Noo and Phra Mongkhon for about 30 minutes. I didn't like meditating because it was very boring and uncomfortable sitting still on the ground. I then went to bed straight away because we had to get up early in the morning. On the last day my parents came to pick me up. We had a special ceremony first called seauk. I had to repeat after the monk some words in Pali like before. I also had to change my robes and put on my shorts and t-shirt. I was happy to leave because I could now eat after lunch. I did not really enjoy myself but I was happy that I could help my grandfather. Nattawud Daoruang was a student at Sriwittayapaknam School, Samut Prakarn, when he became a novice monk for one month. He wrote the above for his web site, Thailand Life Life of a Temple Boy in Thailand Life for a dek wat or temple boy in the countryside is very interesting. Early in the morning, before daybreak, he must prepare the alms bowl and a food carrier for the monks. Then, when the monks are ready for alms-collecting in the village, he will have to carry food for the monks. Everyday he will follow the monks who go for alms-collecting 2-3 kilometres away from the temple. Many times he has to run for safety when he encounters fierce dogs. Usually alms-collecting will be divided into several routes especially in a temple where there are a large number of monks and novices. On some routes, only one boy is enough to assist monks while some routes may need two or more temple boys. This depends on the quantity of food offered by lay people. Usually most Buddhists prefer to make merit on Buddhist holy days (wan phra) or other religious days or their birthday. Thus, on these occasions food and other necessity items will be offered to monks and novices in large quantity. Upon returning to the temple, the temple boys will prepare food for monks and novices immediately. After the monks have finished their meal, the temple boys will keep some food for their second meal which must be eaten before midday. Then temple boys will eat the left-overs as it is considered to be a sin for lay people to eat before monks or novies. After midday, food is not allowed except liquids such as water, soft drink or pasterurised milk etc. A temple boy will undertake work similar to that of a housemaid, but he will not get paid by the monk. On the contrary, his duty is done in exchange for merit, free food and accommodation. The life of a temple boy is not easy as it seems, especially in a village temple where the nearby villagers are mainly poor farmers. Food is offered to monks and novices in a rather limited quantity. As a result, it is quite common for little food to be left for the temple boys. People may ask why many boys (girls are not allowed) become temple boys. This is because their parents are mostly poor farmers who find it better to send their sons to stay with monks in the temple where they can get free food and accommodation and by way of doing work for monks and novices they will also get merit in return. However, in some cases the boys are from wellto-do families, but their parents want them to stay in a temple which usually has a school in its compound. At the same time, if they stay with the monks, they will become good boys ,as monks usually give them moral instruction and train the, to be disciplined and be good Buddhists. This is an extract from 'Essays on Thailand' by Thanapol Chadchaidee History of Thailand Thailand means "land of the free", and throughout the country's 800-year history, the Thai people can boast the distinction of being the only country in Southeast Asia never to have been colonised. Formerly known as Siam to foreigners who first came to this region as early as the 12th century, the country's name was changed to Thailand with the advent of a democratic government in 1939. Long before the emergence of what is conventionally called the Thai kingdom during the 12th Century, the area known as the chao Phraya valley was inhabited by ancient civilisations that can be traced back to prehistoric times. The Prehistoric Era By far the most important archaeological discoveries confirming these ancient people were made in the tiny village of Ban Chiang near Udon Thani in the northeast. Systematic excavation of Ban Chiang began only two decades ago, revealing painted pottery, jewelry, bronze and iron tools. Settlement began about 3600 B.C. and lasted until about 250 B.C. The Ban Chiang people farmed rice, domesticated their animals, and were skilled potters. But even before human beings roamed the northeastern plateau, the region was once home to a more ancient species of animal - the dinosaur (see picture). In 1984, fossils from plant-eating dinosaurs were found in Phu Wiang province, and was named Phuwiangosaurus sirindhornae, while a more recent fossil discovery unearthed the Siamotyrannus isanensis, a fierce meat-eating ancestor of the infamous Tyrannosaurus rex. Over the centuries, the area was influenced by various cultures, from the Indians in the 3rd Century, the Mons between the 6th to the 11th centuries, and the Khmers who built the wondrous Angkor Wat and who also left their legacy in the form of numerous stone sanctuaries scattered across the Thai kingdom. Thailand's dominant culture is believed to have arrived with tribes who moved down from southern China almost a thousand years ago. They settled in what is now northern Thailand before expanding south to the rich plains and valleys, gradually asserting their independence from existing Khmer and Mon kingdoms. The Sukhothai Era By the 13th century, the Thais had begun to emerge as a dominant force in the region, slowly absorbing the weakened empires of the Mons and Khmers. By 1238, the first Thai kingdom, Sukhothai - called by its ruler "the dawn of happiness" - has been established. It is often considered the golden era of Thai history, an ideal Thai state in a land of plenty governed by paternal and benevolent kings, the most famous of whom was King Ramkamhaeng the Great. Ramkamhaeng was noted as an administrator, legislator and statesman. He is credited with the invention of the Thai script. The Sukhothai period saw the Thais, for the first time, developing a distinctive civilisation with their own administrative institutions, art and architecture. Sukhothai Buddha images, characterised by refined facial features, lineal fluidity, and harmony of form, are considered to be the most beautiful and the most original of Thai artistic expression. In 1350, the mightier state of Ayutthaya exerted its influence over gentile Sukhothai, and from a former vassal state, it usurped all administrative power, leaving Sukhothai a deserted kingdom. The Ayutthaya Era The Ayutthaya kings adopted Khmer cultural influences from the very beginning. No longer the paternal and accessible rulers that the kings of Sukhothai had been, Ayutthaya's sovereigns were absolute monarchs whose position was enhanced by trappings of royalty reflective of a Khmer devaraja (god-king). Brahmins officiated side by side with Buddhist monks at state ceremonies - a legacy which remains in modern Bangkok. The 16th century was marked by the first arrival of Europeans and by continual conflict with the Burmese. In 1569, Ayutthaya fell to Burmese forces that thoroughly sacked and plundered the city, and forcibly removed much of Ayutthaya's population to Burma. The Siamese kingdom, however, was reconsolidated by King Naresuan the Great. Under this great king, Ayutthaya prospered and became the thriving metropolis as described by 17th Century European visitors. Europeans were primarily attracted to Siam as a door to the China trade. Ayutthaya and her ports became entrepots for goods travelling between Europe, India and the East Indies, and China and Japan. The height of European presence in Ayutthaya, especially the French, was undoubtedly during the reign of King Narai, who ruled 1656 to 1688. It was through the presence of these Europeans during King Narai's reign that gave the W est most of its early knowledge of Siam. Some Western visitors compared Ayutthaya to Venice and called it "the most beautiful city in the East." In 1767, a Burmese invasion succeeded in capturing Ayutthaya. In their hurry to withdraw from the conquered capital, the Burmese killed, looted and set fire to the whole city, thereby expunging four centuries of Thai civilisation. But despite their overwhelming victory, the Burmese didn't retain control of Siam for long. A young general named Phya Taksin gathered a small band of followers, broke through the Burmese encirclement and escaped to Chantaburi. Seven months after the fall of Ayutthaya, he and his forces sailed back to the capital and expelled the Burmese occupation garrison. The Thonburi Era General Taksin, as he is popularly known, decided to transfer the capital from Ayutthaya to a site nearer to the sea which would facilitate foreign trade, ensure the procurement of arms, and make defence and withdrawal easier in case of renewed Burmese attack. He established his new capital at Thonburi. The rule of Taksin was not an easy one. The lack of central authority since the fall of Ayutthaya had led to the rapid disintegration of the kingdom, and Taksin's reign was spent reuniting the provinces. The Rattanakosin Era After Taksin's death, General Chakri became the first king of the Chakri dynasty, ruling from 1782-1809. His first action as king was to transfer his administrative headquarters across the river from Thonburi to Bangkok. There he set about to build his new palace according to the pattern of Ayutthaya. He assembled all surviving master craftsmen from the old city. The Grand Palace they built contained not only the residences of the king and the royal family, but also incorporated the government and judicial offices and, most importantly, the Royal Chapel where the revered Emerald Buddha was installed. Rama I's successors, Rama II and Rama III, completed the consolidation of the Siamese kingdom and the revival of the arts and culture of Ayutthaya. Rama II re-established relations with the West, suspended since the time of Narai, allowing the Portuguese to construct the first Western embassy in Bangkok. Rama III, ruled 1824-1851, continued to reopen Siam's doors to foreigners, successfully promoting trade with China. The ready availability of Chinese porcelain led him to decorate many of his temples, including Wat Arun, with porcelain fragments. King Mongkut, Rama IV, who ruled 1851-1868, was the first Thai king to understand Western culture and technology, and his reign has been described as the "bridge spanning the new and the old." Mongkut realised that traditional Thai values would not save his country from Western encroachment, and thus initiated the policy of modernisation that he believed would bring Siam in line with the West and reduce hostilities with foreigners. Mongkut's son, Chulalongkorn, was only 15 when he ascended the throne. But he reigned over Siam as Rama V for 42 years - and transformed his country from a backward Asian land into a modern 20th century kingdom. King Chulalongkorn's successor, Vajiravudh (1910-1925), was Oxfordeducated and thoroughly Anglicised. His western-inspired reforms to modernise Siam considerably affected the structure of modern Thai society. Prajadhipok (Rama VII) was personally concerned with improving the welfare of his subjects. He was aware of the rising demand for greater participation in government by a small foreign-educated faction, but felt that the Siamese were, on the whole not ready for democracy. In 1927, he publicly commented that the people must be first taught political consciousness before democracy could be effectively be introduced. However, a coup d'etat in 1932 ended the paternal but absolute rule of the king. the coup was staged by the People's Party, a military and civilian group masterminded by foreign-educated Thai, whose chief ideologist was Pridi Panomyong, a young lawyer trained in France. The king accepted the provisional constitution by which he "ceased to rule but continued to reign." In December 1932, the king signed the Parliament Constitution which promised universal suffrage and general elections every four years. Upon the abdication of King Prajadhipok, Ananda Mahidol returned home to a tumultuous welcome in 1945. With his death just one year later, he was succeeded by his younger brother King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the present monarch. "We will reign with dharma (righteousness), for the benefit and happiness of the Siamese people," was the coronation pledge of King Bhumibol Adulyadej. True enough, the king provides the stability and continuity lacking in the turbulent cycle of Thai politics and a young democracy. Tirelessly touring the land with Queen Sirikit to inspect and improve the welfare of the people, the King inspires universal reverence. As a constitutional monarch, he maintains neutrality at times of crisis. Foreign Languages for Travellers A Ajarn - Teachers in secondary schools are usually called Ajarn by their students. Anuban - The kindergarten school is called Anuban. B Pai nai? - This is probably one of the first phrases I learned, and certainly the one I heard most often whenever I went for a walk. It means "where are you going?" Strangers would ask me in the street "pai nai?" and I soon learned that an answer wasn't always expected. However, a good response is "bai tee-o" which means going out for pleasure. Baht - The unit of money in Thailand. 100 satang = 1 baht. At the moment the exchange rate is changing on a daily basis. During 1997 the baht was devalued. Against the dollar the baht has jumped from 25 baht to about 40 baht a dollar. Against the pound it has jumped from 40 baht to about 70 baht a pound. This is the best time for tourists to come to Thailand to get value for their money. Try this currency convertor at CNN. Bangkok Post - Popular English language daily. At 20 baht, it is relatively expensive compared to the Thai papers which cost 8 baht. Visit our Current Affairs pages for links for this newspaper and others. Buffalo - When I first started teaching English in Thailand I could never understand why the kids were always in fits of laughter whenever there was a phrase in the text books using the word "buffalo". On one occasion I mistakenly thought a student had said "I am a buffalo" and told him so. Everyone just laughed and laughed because when you want to ridicule someone you refer to them as a "buffalo" or kwai in Thai. C Chedi - (pronounced jeh-dee) A Buddhist bell-shaped monument known in other countries as stupa or pagoda. Important chedis contain relics of the Buddha or revered monks. The main chedi in Samut Prakarn province is called Phra Samutchedi. Chock dee - The Thai word for good luck. The English word "lucky" is sometimes used, though pronounced as "lug-gee". D Days - The days of the week are named after the planets in the same fashion as the Western countries. For more information, visit the Dates and Time page. Don Muang - The main international airport just north of Bangkok. Muang means city and don means on the high ground. Visit their website for more information. F Farang - A commonly heard term for people of European descent. Apparently it is taken from the Thai word for French people who were very active in this area over the last 200 years. It is not meant to be derogatory. Fon dok - (the d in dok is pronounced dt) There is a lot of rain during the wet season. In Bangkok, September is the wettest month with an average of 300 mm (12 inches). Visit our weather page. G Green eye - This is an interesting one. Our "black eye" is translated as "green eye"! Greng jai - This means being considerate to other people. In Thailand this is very important and the students receive many lessons about it. It is actually very hard for a foreigner to grasp the concepts. Although we are taught to be considerate to other people, the Thai people take it to a much higher level. The students wouldn't normally ask me for help outside lesson time because of greng jai for me. I Isaan - The Thai word for the north-east of Thailand, bordering the country of Laos. J Jai dee - If someone is kind they are jai dee. Jai means heart and dee means good. Jai yen yen - This literally means "cool your heart". It is not the Thai way to lose your cool so if anyone sees a friend beginning to get angry and emotional they will urge them to "jai yen yen". K Khun - (pronounced like "koon" though with a short "oo" sound) This is the official and polite way to address both men and women. I am addressed as Khun Richard. Khun can also mean "you" and is the proper way to attract someones attention. It doesn't really translate well into English. This is why tourists always misunderstand a Thai persons intention when they shout out "You, you" as they walk down the street. Kru - (pronounced like "kroo" though with a short "oo" sound) The teachers are referred to as Kru in primary schools and usually Ajarn in secondary schools. In Thailand people are called by their first names so at school the students call me Khun Khru Richard. Krung Thep - (pronounced like "kroong", though with a short "oo" sound and "tep") This is the Thai name for Bangkok, meaning City of Angels. It is really an abbreviation of the real name which is in the Guiness Book of Records for the longest place name in the world. Bangkok is the old name for the original town, though still used today by foreigners. L Lek - This means small and is a common nickname for people. Ling - This is the Thai word for monkey. It is also a name teachers use for students who are always naughty. Interestingly, the western game of "Piggy in the Middle" is called "Monkey Steals Ball" in Thailand . Loy Krathong - This is one of the most beautiful festivals in Thailand. Krathong is traditionally a banana leaf bowl though it can also be made out of paper or other materials. Loy means "to float". For more information about this festival, visit our Loy Krathong page. M Mai ben rai - This is probably one of the most common phrases heard. It means "never mind" or "you're welcome" and reflects the Thai peoples attitude of nothing is ever important enough to get all steamed up about. Mattayom - The secondary school is called Mattayom. Months - It is relatively easy for the students to remember how many days each month has. Months ending in kom have 31 days and yon have 30. For example, January (31 days) Mokgarakom and April (30 days) Maysayon. For more information, visit the Dates and Time page. N Names - Family names in Thailand are a relative newcomer, starting at the beginning of this century. First names are regarded as far more important and are used on a daily basis. When I first came to Thailand I was called Mr. Richard. In telephone books and at hotels, names are sorted by your first name and not your family name. Rama VI introduced the practice of surnames in 1913. He personally invented names for about 500 families. It is very rare in Thailand for un-related people to have the same family name. Nicknames - Everyone in Thailand has a nickname which is usually given to them at birth. Sometimes, a nickname doesn't match the child after he has grown up. For example, we have a teacher at school called Lek, which means "little". But now he is very tall. Many people call their friends by their nicknames so often that they don't know their real name! Numbers - Many people would agree that Asian students perform much better at mental arithmetic than their Western counterparts. One theory suggests that the naming for their numbering system is the main reason. For example: 15 in English is fifteen, but in Thai it is sib ha (ten five or one block of ten and five). 35 in English is thirty five, but in Thai it is sam-sib ha (three-ten five or three blocks of ten and five). This helps the students easily visualise blocks of numbers. For more information, visit the Dates and Time page. P Pee chai - Whenever I ask my students how many brothers they have they always amaze me when they say they have at least ten or fifteen. What they have done is include their cousins too! Pee chai means "older boy" or "older brother". So, when I say "brother" to them, they automatically think of their cousins too. Pee Rak Nong - At school we have a system where older students will look after the junior students during break times. You could literally translate the Thai words as "Senior loves Junior", but it is not quite that. A student would address an older brother, friend or family member as Pee. In reverse, older students and parents would address younger friends or family members as Nong. Prathom - (pronounced pra-tom) The primary school, age 7 to 12, is called Prathom. It is split into two parts: Grades 1 to 4 are known as Prathom Ton and Grades 5 & 6 are known as Prathom Blai. R Rai - The Thai unit of land is called rai (about 1600 square metres). One rai equals 0.396 acres. S Samlor - A samlor (threee wheels) is a man-sized tricycle used as a taxi in rural towns. In India it is known as rickshaw. The motorised version is commonly known as tuk-tuk (pronounced like "took" though with a short "oo" sound). Sanuk - (pronounced like "sa-nook" though with a short "oo" sound) This is another important Thai word which is often heard. It means fun, which is what Thai people like to have. Sawatdee - An important word to use for greetings as well as goodbyes. Siam - (pronounced sa-yam) This was the official name for the country from 1855 to 1939 and again from 1946 to 1949. It is commonly mispronounced by westerners. Singha - (pronounced sing) The famous Thai beer. Soi - A lane running off the main road (thanon). Songkran - The Thai New Year held between 13th-15th April. This is sometimes called Water Festival as a lot of water is thrown around. Take a look at our festivals page for information about this and other festivals. Songthaew - (pronounced song-tow as in cow) A large pickup truck used as a local bus service. Song means "two" and thaew means "row". Spirit House - This is like an ornamental bird house for the guardian spirits of the land. The Thai people take it very seriously and offer them food and drinks every day. In return they expect the spirits to look after everyone in the household. For more information and pictures visit our Spirit House page. T Thanon - (pronounced ta-non) A road or street. Thai - (pronounced tai) A national of Thailand. Time - My students always get into difficulty when I ask them in English "What time do you go to bed?" Quite often they reply "three o'clock"! Of course, they don't really go to bed at three o'clock in the morning. W hat they have done, and continue to do, is literally translate from Thai to English, forgetting that we don't call "seven o'clock", "one o'clock" as they do. So, my student in this case went to bed at nine o'clock or "sam toom" in Thai. For more information, visit the Dates and Time page. Tuk-tuk - (pronounced like "took" though with a short "oo" sound) This is the noise the motorised samlor makes. It is a small three-wheeled taxi using a two-stroke engine. W Wai - People wai others as a greeting, to say "thank you" or just to pay respect. They do this by putting their hands together in a prayer-like gesture and raising them to about eye level. In Thailand we have a Wai Kru ceremony every year in schools and universities where the students honour their teachers. For more information and pictures visit our Wai Kru page. Y Years - One interesting difference between the West and Thailand is the years. In Thailand we are currently in the 26th Century, or 2541 B.E. to be precise. B.E. stands for Buddhist Era and dates back to the time when the Buddha died. To translate your birthdate into Buddhist years just add 543. For more information, visit the Dates and Time page. Glossary: buat nah fai - ordination ceremony for a monk when a relative is cremated dek wat - a temple boy who assists monks in daily chores Dhamma - the teachings of the Buddha kuti - the living quarters of a monk nehn - a novice monk Pali - ancient language of the buddhist scriptures pindapata - the monks' early morning round of walking for food and alms tam bun - to give or do something in order to gain merit vihara - a temple