Misa YamadaTSEA, P. 1

TSEA Interview Assignment

Name: Suwannee TriratanavasaiAge:Occupation: Businesswoman, EntrepreneurRelationship: MotherDate: March 26, 2011/HomeLanguage: English & Thai

1. Are you a Buddhist? What are some things you do to practice your religion?Yes, meditation to keep up with my inner self, and visit the temple very often.

2. Is there a spirit house at your home? Why? Or why not?No, (why not) why not? I don't believe in spirit houses. (Why) If we have a spirit house sometimes it might create more problems, because if there are good spirits already in the home its good but if there are bad spirits they might create even more problems. Also because Buddha’s teachings is to respect all spirits.

3. Is there a spirit house at your work? Why? Or why not?Yes.

4. How often do you visit it? What do you do there?Not at all, because again Buddha’s teachings is to worship and respect Buddha and Buddha’s teachings not ghosts. Yes, my business partner, “wai”, wishes for good things to come, and I think also offers food.

5. Do you wear an amulet? Why? Or why not?No, because the concept of wearing an amulet is only a belief not a teaching from Buddha. Because back in Buddha’s time there weren’t any amulets, and because Buddha and Buddhism is always in my thought.

6. Have you ever had an experience with a ghost? What happened?To call it a ghost I don't know probably no, but spirits yes. I have experienced a lot of smelling senses during different occurrences, for example when I do good things I tend to be able to smell flowers, but if there is a bad incident like when my dog died and I went to china I was the only one to be able to smell a rotten smell.

7. Do you know anyone else who has had an experience with a ghost? What happened?I don't know.

8. Have you ever been to an astrologer? What advice did you ask for? What

did he/she tell you?Yes I have many times, but now I don't go because according to Buddha’s teachings if you do well, you get or become well if you do poorly you get or become poorly, because Buddha’s teachings is to also accept karma, and that everything happens for a reason.

9. Have you ever been to a ceremony to rid a house of bad spirits? If so, please describe the ceremony.No, but I have heard of a story before.

10. Have you ever been to a “bai sri” ceremony? If so, please describe it. What is the purpose of the ceremony?No I have not.

11. Do you have a tattoo? Do you know anyone who has a tattoo? Why did you (or the person you know) get one?No.