Interview on Animist Belief in Thailand Pimploy Thirati

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Name: Buppa Thirati Age: 54

Occupation: Former EGAT employee (early retired)

Relationship to the interviewer: Mother

Language in which interview was conducted: Thai and English

Date of interview: 19th March 2010 Place of interview: My house

1. How would you summarize Buddhism in a few sentences?

I would say Buddhism teaches everyone to take the middle path and that all the pain and

suffering comes only from within one’s self.

2. How do you practice your beliefs?

I occasionally pray in front of a Buddha amulet and meditate for a while to free my mind. Most

people believe that in order to get good deeds and good karma, they have to go to the temples

everyday and donate as much as they can to the monks but in reality, if people donate more

than they have, how is that beneficial to them? I think the best thing we can do is very simple;

we can just pray for those suffering spirits that are not free from their bad karma. By meditating

and wish for other unfortunate souls, we will gain more good deeds. Of course helping others

physically is important too but you may gain nothing if you’re just doing that just to gain some

good deeds.

3. How often do you visit the temple or the spirit house? What do you do there?

I really wish I could visit the temple more often but there are other things in life that I have to

take care of such as work and family. Now that I’m retired, I have more time to go to the temple.

I used to spend one week at a temple in the forest last year; it was an amazing experience. We

wore white cloths and meditate alone in a quiet peaceful environment.

4. Do you have an amulet? What does it represents and what is significant about this particular

amulet?

I have many amulets; most of them were given to me as a gift. Well, I don’t wear one around my

neck; my necklace is actually a picture of my parents. I have one in my hand bag which I carry

around with me all the time. This one was given to me from my father and it is of a famous

monk. The amulet is there as a reminder for me to think of all the Buddhist teachings that I

know and sometimes I believe it is a spiritual protection.

Interview on Animist Belief in Thailand Pimploy Thirati

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5. Do you believe in ghosts? What are your thoughts on ghosts and spirits?

I do believe in spirits; I think they exist and are present among us but we cannot see them. They

are those souls that are still wandering around because they don’t have a place or a body to go

yet. I think our lifetime is like a voyage. Our soul lives in a body or a boat that doesn’t belong to

us and eventually will be broken down. Some may reach the other side or the nirvana but some

may be lost in the sea and struggle to go to the other side. I used to be very scared of ghosts

when I was little but once I know they are just like everyone of us but less fortunate, I don’t feel

like I should be afraid of them.

6. Have u ever experience any unexplained phenomenon?

Personally I have never experienced ghosts or spirits.

7. What are the differences between your religion and other religions?

I can’t say that Buddhism is the best religion; I believe that all religions teach people to do good

to others. In Buddhism, there is no god or divine figure but just the Buddha who was once a

normal human being. This makes the followers believe that every one of them will be able to

reach nirvana and be enlightened. Our goal in life is not to go to heaven but rather to not exist

and never will be born again.

8. Have you ever been to a Buddhism ceremony? Can you describe the experience?

I’ve been to weddings, funerals and house blessing ceremonies. House blessing ceremony is

probably a unique Buddhist tradition. On this day we invite monks to come to our house and

give blessing, usually done for new houses. Later on we give food and money to the monks. This

ceremony is done to caste away bad spirits by giving them good karma so that they would leave

the family or help protect them. I do believe that spirits exist everywhere; even in this house

that we’re living in and they help protect and look after us.