What happened here?

There is in Kanchanaburi Province, to the west of Bangkok, not just the much feted "Bridge over the River Kwai" but also the the great tourist attraction, the Tiger Temple, which is a Buddhist temple where they house tame and friendly tigers.  In fact, they are so friendly that the monks welcome tourists to come and see and be with the tigers in their temple habitat.  And the tourists do go, in their thousands every year. 

Well something went wrong during the past week for the temple's abbot (pictured) was attacked by one of their 'house friendly' tigers. 

The abbot, Phra Vissuthisaradhera, or more simply Luangta Chan, was taking one of his much loved tigers for a walk when he slipped and fell, thus startling the tiger which then reacted out of fear, or so the story goes.  Luangta Chan assured the public that this was not the attack of a vicious tiger but the reaction of his friend whom he had frightened as a result of his fall.  It was his fault.  The abbot also explained that the tiger, like all of us, has been affected by the recent hot weather and so is a little touchy at the moment.  And finally, the abbot explained he had been away for a long time and so the tiger was a little unsure, as you would be, after not seeing a friend for so long.   

None of it was the fault of the tiger and all was explained so that no one has to fear Hern Fa, the abbot's beloved tiger.  So it is business as usual hopefully for the temple as there is a lucrative tourist trade to be had. 

This is a great story with a message.  Is it about the laying of blame or the accepting of responsibility?  Is it about temples doing business?  Is it about business must go on, no matter what?  Is it about friendships and relationships?  Is it about our love of animals? Or?  You can just choose your own message.  It is a story with a difference and as the abbot said, if Hern Fa was serious, he would have done real damage to the beloved abbot. 

Royal Ploughing Ceremony

"Plentiful water, good harvest and abundant food production were predicted for the coming crop year by traditional soothsayers at the Royal Ploughing Ceremony" last week.  This annual event was yet another occasion for a holiday.  The picture gives a sense of the day which is a day that gives witness to traditional Thai belief and practices.  For us from the west, it may speak of superstition or something out of the Middle Ages but let us not underestimate that this day, like many Thai traditional beliefs and practices, is taken seriously, with even the royal family being involved in these proceedings. 

I would venture that it reflects life in Thailand.  You look around Bangkok with all its modern buildings and infrastructure and you are tricked into simply thinking that you are in yet another 21st century city.  Yes, it is but it is also much more.  Beneath all the modernity and sophistication, there is a strong and living culture that comes out of a bygone era.  Truth is people here are still very much caught up in their traditional ways, beliefs and daily life practices. 

If you want to get anywhere with them, you have to know their ways and beliefs and work with them and not against them.  This means if things go wrong, do not get upset as you will achieve nothing beyond people taking offence or walking away.  They just see the world differently from you and have different expectations of others, especially when you are their senior. 

It sure can be frustrating as sometimes you see a wrong or a mistake and you want to let forth but before saying anything, think it through and judge if it will have any good impact.  If not, better to keep quiet.  Do talk direct but do not talk directly at them as directness may be seen as confrontation and they just don't deal with confrontation. 

You may ask how they get things done.  Well, they have their own way and the best way is to do it their way.  I saw a quote from my Facebook page that reminded me that we in the west look to being useful and achieving something worthwhile.  Here they look more to being happy and finding their quiet way in life.  Therein lies a big difference. 

I was brought up to accept responsibility.  Here responsibility in the outside world belongs to others, specifically to those above you or in charge.  Where I come from, everyone is encouraged to take initiative.  Here initiative is seemingly the prerogative of those who hold the responsibility, namely, yet again, those above you and in charge.  So they wait for you to take the initiative or let you know when they are ready that something needs to happen or has happened. 

It is all so different.  You may like it to be otherwise to suit you, the foreigner, but they will not change their ways to suit you and really why should they?  No one is either right or wrong.  No one is necessarily better than another.  We are all just different and we all have a bit of right and a bit of wrong.  I learn so much about humanity through being here and sharing life with my good teachers, the Thais and others who are part of my daily routine and struggle.   

Father knows best

If you are 58 like me, you remember a classic, American TV sitcom called "Father Knows Best".  It must have been good as I can still name who played the dad - Fred MacMurray.   Well it wasn't that the dad was always right but that he tried his best to be right for his two teenage sons and that he showed some wisdom in helping them deal with their dilemmas.

Well, I live in a city where there seems to be no shortage of 'father knows best' types and they are not just sitting there acting wisely nor for the good of those who come their way.  The ones I come across tend to be older western guys who have lived here awhile and think that they know everything about the local scene.  So they proceed to preach their message to the new western guys.  I was sitting in the midst of such an episode this week. 

I am at Nandos, one of my local hangouts, having a chat and along come the two newly arrived Americans who sit for a chat with the assembled group of locals who all know me as Fr John.  These two guys are just entranced under the spell of the local western male 'know all' who professes to know it all about here.  The well known local farang proceeds to preach about Thailand and what they should know about here.  I think, "The cheek of the man".  Still the Americans were loving it and just taking it all in. 

The preached message features how Thais are so much better and how we from the west get it all wrong.  I have so heard this before.  No, don't worry.  This is not a mud slinging match against Thais.  This is a reality check to remind myself that this place has its fair share of western 'know alls' who sadly get an audience here that they would never entertain back home.  They are generally the expert sitting sucking on their beer, while giving their version of the gospel on Thailand which is all just screwy. 

Truth is no matter who we are and where we come from, we all get some of it right and some of it wrong in life.  The dad in "Father Knows Best" knew this very well.  That is why he was such a wise man.  It is never one is all right and the other all wrong. 

What ones, like my local 'know all', present is part of the picture and it is their picture.  Yes, Thais do not suffer from guilt but they suffer from shame.  Yes, they do not have the burdens of a Judeo-Christian west but that does not mean they are freer than us.  They have their own burdens to carry in their society.  Yes, there is an acceptance of one's sexuality in Thailand but that does not simply mean that they can go and do what they want and be who  they want to be.  There are strong expectations placed on them.  I am not slinging in any way at Thais but I do hold that what western 'know alls' do by taking their throne and preaching the message of Thailand is to show a lack of understanding and respect for both Thais and foreigners.  It is really more about these westerners taking the control seat and showing who is best - them.

And of course, the focus topic is trying to help newly arrived, western males understand what they find and enjoy here - sex with seemingly free Thais.  Please! All I could do was walk away and think, "Don't they get it?  People are people.  There is no free lunch in this world.  People so deserve so much better.  Thais and Thailand deserve so much better."    

As my neighbour, the 'know all', said in one part of his homily - "T.I.T." which is a well known, local saying.  It means "This is Thailand".  It is supposed to easily explain away so much about here.  Well, maybe it is more - O.I.T. - "Only in Thailand". 

Africa For Norway - A timely message.

For something different this week, I am letting a song say it all.  Sit back, watch, listen and enjoy. 

Now, wasn't that fun?  Here I am caught up in all sorts of intense issues to save the world - refugees, human trafficking, migrants.  It is stressing me and I feel drained.  Then two young Germans working on placement at BRC (the refugee centre) call me over to show me this song on You Tube.  My companions in refugee work are two great young women.  We just loved what we saw.  It made us laugh and that was so good to do.  It brought my energy back and made me relax and see all things in a lighter perspective.  I hope it energizes you and makes you laugh. 

We also saw its message and it is a necessary message.  We don't have to save the world.  We just have to work together to make it a decent place, a better place for all and we all have our contribution to make.  This is not a one person event.