journey2tranquilization : da cult
02.25.04 (11:34 pm) [edit]prologue
Along with the buddhism belief (maybe only here in Thailand) which is saying that it's everyman's duty to becoe a monk in oder to payback to his parents of upbringing, patience and eveything. Many do that while their parents are still alive, many don't.
It's the world where only intention needed, the world where one has to give up normal man's life and enter to the new dimension of vision and perspective.
Are you ready to enter the world of "one" ?
Da Cult : First Vocabulary
Naga (Nhaak)
Naga usually means big serpent creature living in the under world as you can see at some temples around the country. Anyway, you might ask how this anaconda came to the path of buddhism, well the story is in the time of Lord Buddha, He had preached many people and they could get enlightened by His Teaching. Some of them were still normal people some of them were monks and there was this Nhaak, he was a prince or an emperor (or something) in the under world and one day he heard Lord Buddha himself teaching to a group of people and he got struck by His Majesty's words and desperately wanted to be enlightened. So he disguised himself as a young man so he could go through the process of becoming a monk. But thing was that easy, he was caught. And The Lord was impressed by his good will, so He preached Nhaak with another Teaching and finally he got enlightened as he wished without becoming a monk.
So by the good deed and all that Nhaak had done, buddhists will call the man who's in the process of becoming a monk as Nhaak.
So in this context, Nhaak here means a guy who's preparing his mind and soul to enter the new world where no man can live the same.
The preparation consists of shaving and shanting, but don't worry, pal. Even though you just came back from shaking your bon bon with your friends a couple of hours before. There will be a couple of monks assisting you along the way through it.
When the day arrives, Nhaak and all his friends and family will gather around in line the one side of the monastry chapel a.k.a. "U-bo-sod" and do the traditional dancing and singing while making a three rounds clockwise marching.
Fun part of this "Haa-Nhaak" is that many people will fight for the pillow job. Mostlt the girls or girlfrinds or wife-to-be. You should have seen mine, it's so hilariuos, even a boy wanted to do this job!
The marching finish with coin throwing, as far from my preparation. They don't usually use 50 Satang coins or 25 Satang coins in this "Proy-taan" cos it'll makee the donors having sort of half life or quarter life, well I think it's mentally speaking.
That's it for the outdoor action. Let's get in!
I think that the inside ritual is somewhat like the "final vow" but for this monk thing you don't have to be a monk forever just promise that you won't be naughty and I think that everything would be just fine.
If you were Thai and just happen that you don't have any wild card left to deal with your parents, do it this way and they will be haed over your heel, believe me!
The Cloud no.9 :The Day Socrates meets Sidhatta
02.19.04 (4:46 am) [edit][b]The Cloud no.9 :The Day Socrates meets Sidhatta- part 1
Epilogue[/b]
Now the hour of sunset was coming towards this group of people. Socrates and his friends fell silent. Soon the man entered, looking pale and unhappy.
He went up to Socrates and said "You are the noblest and best of all whoever came to this place. I must give you this now and beg you not to be angry with me. Others are to blame for this not I."
All the men burst into tears, and went out of cell.
"You drink, and then you you walk about until your legs are heavy and then you lie down, and the poison will act." The jailer said to Socrates.
...After the poison was drunk readily and cheerfully. All the honourable men in the room, after they had no longer hold back their tears any longer. Phaedo covered his faceand wept, Crito had tears streaming down his face, Apollodorus Broke out in loud cries of grief.
Socrates walked about the cell until he felt his legs growing stiffer and stiffer. He finally lay down on his cot. The chill were rising from his feet to his calves and then his thigh.
"I am growing cold." Socrates said.
"When the poison reaches the heart, it'll be the end." The Jailer told the honourable Socrates.
Socrates did not answer. And then cover his face with his blanket. Things were flashing back to his mind again. He strcked with one situation on the extraordinary afternoon not so long before...
[b]The Cloud no.9: The Day Socrates meets Sidhatta - Part 2
Origin[/b]
It was one day in the year we call 399 B.C. Two men met by chance not so far outside the wall of Athens. One was young, the other was old. They both had no business to attend in Acropolis that day.
The young man name's Sidhatta. It was the conversation that day that he had with the older man. Although Sidhatta was young, he enlightened himself as being quite learned. He had devoted his life to show peolpe the way out of of mysery.
He took things in the middle way, it seems, we could see him when he walked through the crowded street, he kept humble unlike the most so-called interlectual of Athens who always have their noses held high in the air. For Sidhatta thought that he's no virtuos than other men, and therefore than they were.
Next to him, the older man whose name was Socrates, looked clownish and grotesque. Socrates was 70 years old and probably had none of young Sidhatta's dignity, he looked as coarse and as earthy as a peasant.
"What brings you to the outside wall of Athens,Socrates." The young one asked.
"It's such a beautiful day and it will be such ashame just to lock myself inside the city wall." Socrates said.
It’s like everytime that Socrates kept thinking about something and he would wander around the city. People would laugh at him and thought that he’s crazy. And that day was an usual day for him.
“What is really going on in your mind right now, sir?” Sidhatta started talking to him again.
“A lot of things that probably can’t be understood.” Socrates answered and had a very little sigh.
“Like what?” The bright young soul kept asking him with more questions.
“Conflicts, actually. I mean what’s really going on in Athens, things have been changing through time and her people were also changing too but I’m afraid that she’s heading to self-destructing state where there is no return.” Socrates almost bursted out.
[b]The Cloud no.9: The Day Socrates meets Sidhatta - Part 3
Flying without Wings[/b]
A few hours before this meeting Socrates just heard the accusation that might cost his life but ,honestly, he didn’t care that much. A young guy named Meletus, accusing him with the very serious charge of "impiety against the gods of the city" and with "corrupting the young."
On the account of impiety against the gods of the city, the charges related not to Zeus, but to Socrates' affection for dictatorship and scorn for democracy.
The second charge against Socrates, was even more exoriating, that he had corrupted the young mind or and the youth of Athens. The foremost examples of the gilded youth he led astray was Alcibiades and Critias.
Socrates' disciples suggested an escape, with the tacit connivance of the authorities who just wanted him gone, but Socrates refused.
He was in a hot seat and actually he could get himself out of that situation but he had been thinking about the available options that he’s got.
Socrates always said that he knew nothing while he asked his destructively critical questions boasted about how the Oracle at Delphi declared that Socrates was the wisest, most free, just, and prudent man in the world. In other words, "I am a fool, but I know I'm a fool and that makes me smarter than you."
“It must be something that really bother you, even a new-born child can point that out.” Sidhatta tried to continued the conversation.
“I was surprised that’s all when somebody I don’t know accusing me with some serious charge.” Socrates answered plainly.
“Oh, what are you going to do then?” The young mind asked curiously.
“What do you think I should do?” He asked back.
“Well, I would probably stay calm and meditate.” Sidhatta answered with his youthful confidence.
“Stay calm, yes that’s what I’m doing at the moment and what would I get from the meditation? ” Socrates began using his dialogue.
“Once you meditate, your mind will stop wander from one thought to another and ,hopefully, in the final your mind will settle. You will receive the peace from the inside.” Sidhatta answered the wise old man.
“I’ve heard your saying that there is nothing last long forever. Nothing is immortal. And according to what we were saying right now, I think that even I find peace of mind but I’d be back to the same point where I stand right now and it’ll fade away.” The old man siad.
“Yes, you heard right. Nothing in is last forever even this universe. Neither the happiness right now nor the sorrow from yesterday. I’ll say that it’s the Pure Truth. Everything has it’s own dynamics.” The young one explained his idea.
“Not even the medition itself. Isn’t that weird? I mean, if the peace of mind is not sustainable, so what’s the point? And if it is so, what’s the dynamics of attending the inner peace anyway?” Socrates punched him with the questions.
“That’s good questions you asking me. Well, here is my answer. The moment when you truly acheive the inner peace, your mind will settle, like I said, your head will be clear enough to think about the source of your problem and how to solve the trouble. There might be many ways to solve your problem but if you think carefully, with the most reasonable analogy, you will find the answer.” Sidhatta replied.
Sidhatta only tried to explain to him that when Socrates had his meditation and it’ll develop into wisdom and true wisdom, pure truth. And only he could understand what he was saying, Sidhatta wished that at the end of the day, he’d be ready for anything to come.
“ … ” Socrates didn’t say anything back to the young philospher or whatever he was.
It was strange this time that he’s the first one to discontinue talking. He had digged deep in thought and tried to understand the exact meaning of this conversation.
The day was passing by…
The jury convicted him on both counts. Then Socrates asked that his penalty be that he be declared a civic hero and fed at the public table for life! That did not go over too well. The jury, incensed, gave out the death penalty.
But instead, in accordance with his wanting to destroy the moral legitimacy of a free government by using its judicial system to fulfill his death wish, he baited both the jury to find him guilty and to punish him with death.
Socrates shed not a tear for Athens.
Only Wish Opportunity Will Knock The Third Time
02.17.04 (2:41 am) [edit]When it comes to the decision in your life where everything you ever want lining up in front of you, it becomes harder when you really have to DECIDE.
It's always my dream to be success when I'm still young, it's like my dream when I freshly graduated from my university. Funny thing is all of my past years for me was so struggling and desperately wanted it to be my way and look what I have to deal with right now.
I have a happy job and ok salary, my dad wants me to work with his friend and money is only a little better but I'll have to leave my LIFE to start my new life where I can't imagine my life to be. But in a long run I know that I can go even far from where I am right now.
So the opportunity has come knocking my door, honestly it has been twice and I was frustrating still. I'm not so sure if the opportunity would come knocking my door again.
Anyway, after talking to many friends and I came to the decision where I'd stay working here for my happiness sake. Only hope that I made the right choice.
One advice I got was just do whatever making me happy, not just to please anyone.
Be Happy Everyone.
Three nights of Valentine's : Music
02.11.04 (2:57 am) [edit]I used to listen to lots of music and didn't have any particularly favourite artist. Well, Valentine's won't be a good Valentine's without good music and my pick is going to be...
If You Are Not the One by [url=http://www.danielbedingfield....]Daniel Bedingfield[/url] .
Well, I know that my choice is always soapy but what should I say? This is ME.
Have A Happy Third Night Before Valentine's.
My Inner Child Test
02.10.04 (11:36 pm) [edit]Omigosh! I become an addict on this quizzila website already and as far as I took the tests I came down to this one that you might (or maybe not ) think that it's so sarcasticly funny.
So here is my inner child age right now.
My inner child is sixteen years old!
Life's not fair! It's never been fair, but while
adults might just accept that, I know
something's gotta change. And it's gonna
change, just as soon as I become an adult and
get some power of my own.
How Old is Your Inner Child?
brought to you by Quizilla
train thought
02.10.04 (2:21 am) [edit]Actually this was the same story since a couple of weeks ago that my dear dad mentioning about his friend offering me a job. Anyway, today he called me again, with newest offerto go to ITALY for training and back to Bangkok to work with him. Hmm..this is Really Interesting!
Anyway, it has nothing to do with my post this time, I was thinking about the earlier post about "Before Sunrise". I also thinking about spend a couple of more days on the Euro train travelling Europe a lil bit, only if I can. Sort of something that I dream of.
Actually I planed to travel through Europe when I had graduated from Chulalongkorn Universty with a couple of friends but as we grew we became apart and finally I decide to go to the U.S. instead. I think that I probably wouldn't last a month in europe with the same amount of money. It was a good trip though.
There was a time that I was about to leave Washington D.C. and head to New York, my friend suggest that we should take the plane but I just wanted to gain some experience so I went to New York by Amtrak. As I heard from my friend's uncle and he said that Amtrak has an accident happened quite often. Hmm..that didn't stop me from going to catch the train at the central station anyway.
Amtrak is quite different from Thai Railways in almost every ways. It's much cleaner and a lot of space and good seats people on th etrain too that look absolutely different. Thais would not consider travel or commute by train. I only wished that my life would immitate somewhat from the movie that I really like.
I arrived at the Penn Station in shocked, well I didn't expect it to be very crowded even though it's sunday. My feeling was like standing still when everybody was running. I was totally out of place.
But my latest experience with Thai Railway service was last year the day after christmas, I went to the very far south of Thailand yes on the train for 18 hours. Surprisingly, it was fun and I also considered taking the train to go to Cambodia around New Year too but I just had a lil change in plan, so it didn't happen after all.
... ... ...
An innocent young boy on the train travelling through Europe. He's sitting next to window looking out to the foreign countryside of some country, he doesn't know. Sitting on the opposite seat of him is an interesting young man reading "Life of Pi" enjoyingly. That is the book that the young boy had in his camouflage backpack he brough along from his home country. A chance encounter on the train incites intrigue, and the young man provocatively suggests that young boy postpones him return to Thailand and embarks instead on a spontaneous expedition to Vienna. In the course of their 14-hour relationship, the two share in their love for the unrehearsed and their appreciation for the unexpected as they explore in a powerful meeting of hearts and minds. Dawn breaks. Sad in silence, they make their way to the station. As they bid each other farewell, Young man is seized by another impulse - another encounter ... who knows...
4 Nights of Valentine's : Before Sunrise
02.09.04 (10:05 pm) [edit]To start off this Heart-Warming season of Valentine's Day I came up to this idea to celebrate it with some sentimental element to spice up my cold cold heart. First, I begin with movie. I'll pick "Before Sunrise" for the movie department.
"Before Sunrise" Starring Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy
It is a story of 2 people met by chance. A French Grad student and an American boy on the Budapest-Vienna Train. In the course of 14-hours relationship, two people share their hearts and minds. The morning is about to come, the couples are about to depart. Hopefully they will meet again.
[url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0...][u][b]Here's the trailer.[/b][/u][/url]
Have A Good Fourth Night Before Valentine's Day
bookmark this site
02.09.04 (1:46 am) [edit]Gentlemen and few ladies, please note that I just added a lil [u]bookmark this site [/u] on the left bar under the 365gaynews box and the daily tip. So feel free to hit that link and hope to hear your thought sometimes.
Ciao.
p.s. Guys you can leave the message or comment by click the [u][b]view/add [/b][/u]comment at the end of each writing.
The Royal Emotional Rollercoaster of La La Land*
02.08.04 (11:52 pm) [edit]Wednesday night on the street of Silom. The Unlikely two friends who look like they should live in the different quarter of the world, but honestly they almost did one way or another, were having some hot drinks at the coffee place that was sort of newly-reopened a couple of months before. Like usual, one was [b]foreinger[/b] and another one was [b]Thai[/b], they knew each others for a while probably 2 and a half year.
"How long is it since I have met you xxxx ?" Thai friend asked.
"Agh!!! You just can't remember?" Foreigner almost screamed out loud but he's a lil bit concern about the people sitting next to him and walking by.
"It's been 2 and a half years, Remember that I met you after September, 11th" Foriegner reminded his awhile time no see friend.
"Oh, Don't cry...xxxx" Thai friend patted his alien friend.
The foriegner looked back to him sacarstic eyes and said
"O, Paleaseeee xxxx"
They gigled like two friend in their high school year, well apparently that it's not. The fact that one is living in the real world and another one is trying to get away, and his favourite place is [b]La La Land[/b].
The real world is so cruel for him, Thai guy thinks. So, to find some sort of life goal, he set his destination to the [b]Imaginary Kingdom of La La[/b], where everyone dares to dream and isn't fear to fail. Surprisingly, nobody needs a visa or passport to get into the kingdom, only optimistic point of view is required. It is a wonderful place to live in, it's more or less like the next era of Buddha Period, [i]Sri Ariyametrai[/i], where you can acheive whatever you ask for by asking from the [i]Sri Mahabhodhi[/i] - the holy banyun tree.
Anyway, back to [b]La La Land[/b]. The Kingdom is the pararell universe that is opposite of the real world. You might not be able to see it with your sacarstic eyes, maybe you'll see it with both of your eyes close. The Kingdom now rule by the lovely, some say cute but whatever, [b]Her Royal Highness Princess of La La Land [/b]and the population is 1.
A couple of months prior, the reign of this Kingdom had been vacaant coz Her ruler had to leave Her to enter into the real world to perform a stunt. Honestly, for her own good and her parents's good was an adventages. She had brought Peace to her family. Cheeers.
Now She's back with her new attitude, unknown that it's even better or worse. Anyway, recently, there was a confidential record reported that a identified person had tried to intrude to this sacred Land. And he has set one foot on the Kingdom and the other on Earth ground.
... ... ...
"How's everything in ....?" Thai guy asked his friend with his tender voice.
"Well,.. I'm about to sell my business and ...." The Foriegner answered his coffee fella with a lot of his plan.
"Hmm..Big plan,huh?" Sun-bathed skin guy asked playfully.
"I'm thinking about it and it's quite Big actually and my accountant had e-mailed me this morning and you know what I have absolutely no idea what all these documents said." The Foriegner almost burst out.
And then he went back inside to get his another glass of [i]Gaa-Fae-Yen[/i] (means iced coffee).
... ... ...
It's been a while that Thai guy had been feeling up and down, well, one minute he's so funny and the next he's in misery. Now his friend's back with sweet looking coffee in his hand.
"What's happened?" He asked.
"I don't know. Probably that day of the month." Thai friend answered back with a lil smile on his lips.
"Oh! Paleaseee!" Foriegner almost laughed out.
"Maybe the testosterone." He made up his assumption.
"Yeah, like you are on the rollercoaster. Ahh..the emotional rollercoaster of La La Land." Foriegner spoke out like he's in the triumphant mood or something.
"O, you mean my charriot : The Royal Emotional Rollercoaster of La La Land. And You know what you are always welcome on board with me." Thai guy answered to his friend the same smile that he had gave him for the first time at the coffee place.
... ... ...
The Princess's now on on her way back to Her own universe, to Her thought, where hardly noone can reach. She made farewell to her dearest Peun-Ton (means Royal friend) and head on to Her Charriot : The Royal Emotional Rollercoaster of La La Land.
*All the story is fictional and every names appeared will be kept as a super confidential secret ;-)
Life of Pi
02.04.04 (1:16 am) [edit]It's this part of the book that I really like. It's about the family. Well, here it is "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel.
[i]...to lose your brother is to lose someone with whom you can share the experience of growing old, who is supposed to bring you sister-in-law and nieces and nephews, creatures to people the tree of your life and give it new branches. To lose your father is like to lose the one whose guidance and help you seek, who supports you like a tree trunk supports its branches. To lose your mother, well, that's like losing the sun above you...[/i]
It's kinda slashback to me to realise how important family is. hope this part of the book touches you as well.
~family matters~
02.03.04 (12:54 am) [edit]Where should I begin with?
It's the book I've reading for the moment, [i]Life of Pi[/i] that struck me with this issue of family matter, or family value if you want to call it. In the beginning, honestly I don't really like the book at all, but I found it interesting somehow, I mean the way of the storytelling.
Anyway, last weekend after a little chat with a good friend (you know who you are) about the book and my so-called life. I told him about the drama between father and son. I was trying to explain how I felt towards this. He wanted me to take a job at his friend's factory but after a long long long consideration with some advice from friends, I came to the decision where I decide that I wouldn't take his offer.
I might be careless about this if it was the same me last year. I thought that for many things in my life that I always did things on my decision-base and that didn't hurt anyone-well, from what I thought back then. Now I'm a little concern about my parents feeling.
There is no reason to be mean to each other when that fact that is we are not going to be together forever. So I had changed my perspective lately. Even though I knew that I made them proud of me at some point but not quite sure that they were 100% happy with me.
Back to the conversation I had on the very same day that I went to see my father's friend with, I told one of my friend that I was eager to be successful when I'm young. And here is his reply : [b]To be successful is to have someone loving you.[/b]
To be successful is to have someone loving you.
More than that he gave me a reality check again about my situation. He said : [b]I thought that to make my parents happy is just to be a good person. [/b]
Hmm..he really give me food for thought. Thanks.
where is the love? *
02.01.04 (10:29 pm) [edit]One thing that's almost happened the same period of time as the Avian Flu Crisis happened in Thailand was The Violence in The South.
It All started with gun and military arm robbery a couple of months ago and then it just came back again. But this time they'd burnt down 40s school in a province in the south of Thailand. This caused thousands of students no place to study. It's not just only in small area I'm talking about but it was a whole province. What's going on in this country?
Afetr the school burning incident followed by soldeirs and police officers killing spree by the unknown group of people. It's been like this for months and no one is arrested yet. But the killing is still going on.
Not quite sure that it's going to be a good idea to post this one cos it might give you wrong impression about this Kingdom. But I just wante dto express my feeling towards this matter even though it doesn't have anything got to do with me dirctly but one question i wanted to ask ...
Where is the love?
[url=http://www.bangkokpost.com/Ne...]Violence in The South.[/url]