Where is it all leading?

Remember my last entry?  There, I wisely placed my reflection within the context of my golden rule - "All is never what it seems".  I have learnt this from 15 years of experience of living in Thailand.  You may look at what is before you within one interpretation, while underneath there may be a totally different one at play.  

Is this being confirmed when I hear a Thai priest at daily mass say that the Thai youth of today "are brainwashed"?  Really?  I would hold that they are energized to act against the enduring reality of oppressive and corrupt social structures running their country.    

Still, I start asking myself, if there is once again an undercurrent, a hidden agenda, the real narrative beyond what is presented.  So I must give Father some air time. 

He says brainwashed which I find interesting as I identify that Thais are a people who are already brainwashed.  I say this as I see them believing convincing, locally produced propaganda about their identity and standing in the world.  This has arisen beginning from 1932 when the then king abdicated, handing rule over to capable and vested interests of the state.  Over time, these interests and other powerful forces have joined to create a social narrative that has served them well in running the country.  

With time, there has arisen a powerful and wealthy elite which over the past two decades has engaged in an internal struggle for power of the state.  This struggle has served to further brainwash the people who simply believe one side or the other, without considering what is at play and what is really happening.  This is about all is not what it seems.  

So I come back to where I began.  All is not what it seems.  The youth of Thailand today are all being brainwashed into action?  I am not so sure.  I believe in them and their cause.  Maybe that is too easy an interpretation but, at the same time, I am seeing youth protesting in numerous countries.  They are doing it because something has to happen in a world where there is a shortage of hope.  What I am seeing is powerful forces in their societies acting against them, wherever they may be.  These forces everywhere are saying their youth are being driven by outside powers or brainwashed as a way to explain them away.  

So the discussion all gets cyclical or mixed up.  This calls forth a firm base from which to start a decent conversation.  That base is not easy to identify when so much is used and abused by various forces for their own purposes.  

Trust the youth then.  Let them lead for now and see where it all goes.  At least, it could be no worse than what it is already.  Yes, "the youth are not always right, but the society which ignores them and beats them is always wrong." (Francois Mitterand, President of France, 1981 - 1995)  

    

 

Let go and be free

Present Protests in Bangkok

As you will surely know, protests are back on the daily agenda in Bangkok.  Is this a case of here we go again?  Really not as this is so different from the other times of unrest during my 15 years in Bangkok. For those of you who are not Thaiophiles or are simply viewing from afar, I would like to offer a simple context.  

I name two major differences from other scenarios of unrest over the past 15 years:  

Firstly, the other times were a struggle for power fought between the two sides within the powerful, wealthy elite​​ of Thailand.  Both sides could access the masses for their side.  So on the streets, it became the rural poor versus the urban middle-class.  

Secondly, the masses on both sides at different times occupied the streets and would not leave until they were  forced out or won the battle politically.  

This time, it is generational.  We are seeing young Thais, even older school students, hit the streets.  This is not an inner struggle of the established elite for the prize of power, using the masses for their purposes.  This time, it rings more as a genuine cry for democracy, freeing the country from poor governance and over controlling rule.  

This time, they are not taking over the streets nor are they violent in any way.   So the protesters come and go.  They simply hit the street to protest and present their demands.  When there is the possibility of violence, they leave.  

Its differences from other times in my stay here tell me that this present movement is a real opportunity for social change in the direrction of a more democratic and open society.  I could be wrong as always I hold up one of my golden principles for living and understanding here.  Namely that all is never what it seems.  So, as always, approach any happening, issue or group with wisdom and an open mind.  
 

But I did let go

 

Well, I did let go, but then along came Sunday and within another context in my Bangkok, the same basic issue jumps in front of me, with two worried leaders of the church community coming to me after mass with a concern.  What to do?  Continue letting go.  Like much of life, it is a process and not a one off action.    

What is the basic issue?  It is the lack of recognition and communication offered within the Thai workplace and church to foreigners.  There is just a seeming Thai mindset that does not include non-Thais in conversation and dialogue in things that matter, even when necessary due to one's work or role. This one issue feeds into wider and more worrying issues at play within Thai society, like discrimination, exclusion of outsiders and even xenophobia.   It speaks of the Thai sense of exceptionalism that one living here may experience.  However it is named, there is ever the natural human fear of the other at play.  

The message of the need for communication is not getting across, and may never so, as the cultural forces are too strong.  I understand and accept that.  Okay!  Let it be, but the same old ways continually hit you in the face and it all just gets tiring.  You do not look for it but it just keeps happening.  While it gets tiring, I choose not to fight but, yes, stand up for respect at all times and build bridges, not more walls.  

This is not about being anti anyone.  This is not about getting disturbed or perturbed.  Rather it is about addressing social reality, issues and behaviours that matter, respect for self and others.  That is it.   Respect does matter.  The world we all want together starts with me.  That is the basic building block.  I go from there.  So let go, accept and continue to act for upholding respect for all.  And I must add, I must not take myself too seriously.  Sense of humour always.  

I did let go and

It is fascinating that even when you lay bear your soul and let go, as I did at work this week, the same old agenda keeps arising.  So I hear the same old lines of "we are a team" and "our leadership is shared ", while the harsh realities of control and power ever remain.  There remains only one way in play, the way of the one who presumes to know all  and rule all.  It all does get tiring.  Oh well!  Keep a smile and keep on sailing.  Spirituality does rule. It is the way to go.   

This pandemic has taught me much.  Respect, responsibility and solidarity are key - RRS.  I long ago left control behind, knowing that it just didn't work, as I did with the other two key life principles of my Christian Brother upbringing - perfection and success.  None of them work and I will never be good at any, and I don't have to be.    

Trouble is I never positively and purposely replaced control, perfection and success - CPS.  I kicked them out and left a vacuum in my life.  I can see how important it is for me to name and own another needed, key mechanism for life.  Now I see what that key mechanism for life is - RRS.  They matter.  What RRS shows me is how to more smoothly move from being reactive to being pro-active, from being driven to sharing the driving, from being less self-centred to being more other-centred.  Spirituality does matter.  Way to go.  

It is Time to Let Go

Spirituality is at the heart of life and covers all aspects of life.  I keep saying that and I must believe that or else what sense do I make of my life? 

An issue arose in my workplace at Caritas last week.  I took initial offence.  I then pondered how to approach yet another challenge placed before me, a challenge based on total assumption and misunderstanding on the part of the other now in management. 

At the end of that fateful day last week when confronted by secondhand talk about me and how I am perceived to be angry in my role, I took a long walk and went to pray in the church.  That was the best way to deal with it.  Then 36 hours later, I see the message for me in approaching  this challenge.  Simply, let go!  

My stance is that I seek no control nor power over others nor to uphold my position.  I simply am who I am, a good priest and religious.  My only wish is to be useful in mission and serve as best I can.  Stop!  No more!  I am a threat to no one.  I have no anger.  I can be loud and over dramatic.  Bottom line is I act out of my sense of responsibility and to uphold my dignity, seeking only respect.  That is it!  All else is agenda coming from elsewhere.   

Whether work, life style, personal behaviour, ministry with people, friendships, social life or whatever else, all is ruled by spirituality.