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Dr. Nano: “Best and worst of times for Buddhism in Thailand”
PCEC Member Michael
introduces long time friend, the venerable Dr. Nano (formerly Dr. Mettanando
Bhikkhu) to interested members of Pattaya City Expats Club.
The venerable Dr. Nano (formerly Dr. Mettanando Bhikkhu)
says that that these are the best and worst of times for Buddhism in
Thailand. Best - because Buddhism has more prestige now than ever before.
Worst - because the practice of spirituality has declined, and there is too
much concern for money.
Dr. Mano was speaking at the Sunday, February 24 meeting of the Pattaya City
Expats Club. Dr. Mano is a former Buddhist monk. He teaches Buddhism at the
Assumption University and Center for Thai Studies, Chulalongkorn University
and serves as a member of the Ethics Committee of the Faculties of Medicine,
Chulalongkorn University and Khon Kaen University.
Dr. Mano explained that
“Buddha” is a title, not a name, and that it means “the awakened one” in
Sanskrit and Pali. The Buddha lived and taught in the eastern part of the
Indian subcontinent between the 6th and 4th centuries BCE. Dr. Mano said
that under the Buddhist calendar, Year 1 is the year after the death of the
Buddha.
Dr. Mano described the genesis of Buddhism, a religion
that encompasses a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices largely
based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama. Dr. Mano explained that
although Gautama is known as “the” Buddha, Buddhists believe that he is
actually the fourth Buddha and that there is one more Buddha (“Metteya”) to
come (a belief similar to the belief of a messiah in other religions).
Dr. Mano explained that “Buddha” is a title, not a name, and that it means
“the awakened one” in Sanskrit and Pali. The Buddha lived and taught in the
eastern part of the Indian subcontinent between the 6th and 4th centuries
BCE. Dr. Mano said that under the Buddhist calendar, Year 1 is the year
after the death of the Buddha.
Most scholars agree that there are two major branches of Buddhism: Theravada
(meaning the “school of the elders”) and Mahayana (meaning the “great
vehicle”). Theravada has a widespread following in Sri Lanka and Southeast
Asia. Mahayana is found throughout East Asia. Some scholars also recognise
Vajrayana - practiced mainly in Tibet and Mongolia, and adjacent parts of
China and Russia as a third branch, while others classify it as a part of
Mahayana.
 The
meeting was pleased to see old friend and member John Lyneham, just returned
from an extended period in the UK.
In Theravada countries, Dr. Mano said, Buddhist tradition believes that the
Buddha was born, enlightened and passed away on the same day, the full moon
day of May. There is an annual festival commemorating this called Visakha
Bucha Day. Buddhists do not believe that there is a supreme creator (God),
but they do believe that there is an afterlife. They also believe in heaven
and hell, although the concept is a little different than in the Christian
and Jewish religions. Buddhists believe that they live in “moral universe”
where the good are rewarded, and the evil are punished. In Buddhism, the
karma of intention counts as most significant; and monks are a “field of
merit” from which people can obtain a great amount of merit.
The three main Buddhist principles are: (1) avoidance of all evil; (2)
perfection of all goodness; and (3) purification of the mind.
Dr. Mano provided an explanation of the intricacies of the Buddhist hell,
which has many parts. Dr. Mano said that the Buddhism practiced in Thailand
is different from the Buddhism in other countries in Southeast Asia.
Further, that 93% of the Thai population is Buddhist. He said that about
half of Thai men spend some time ordained as a monk and that more than nine
in 10 monks are ordained for less than one year. Dr. Mano explained that
most Thai men are ordained because they want to show their gratitude for the
milk provided by their mothers. When leaving the monkshood, they are
honoured as “pundits” (educated people). Dr. Mano said that a monk follows
227 rules which govern all aspects of life.
Dr. Mano discussed the story of Vessandorn Chadok (or Vesantara) which, he
said, is the most popular story in Thailand about the life of the Buddha. He
said that in the last part of the rainy season each year, each temple
organises a story-telling festival during which the tale of Vesantara is
recited. He explained that Buddhists in Thailand, Myanmar and Sri Lanka
treat local supernaturalism differently. He noted that the majority of
Buddhist houses in Thailand have spirit houses, a tradition that pre-dates
Buddhism. The owners of the houses are obligated to make some offering to
gratify their local spirits. Further, among Theravada countries, Thailand
has the strongest amulet cult. Buddha amulets are made of various objects
and can be very valuable; some are bought and sold at high prices, even as
high as 10 million baht.
There are nine levels of structure to the organised Buddhist religion in
Thailand, officially ruled by one senior monk, the Supreme Patriarch. In
addition, there are eight Somdets appointed by the King. They are abbots of
famous Buddhist monasteries.
After Dr. Mano answered several questions, Master of Ceremonies Richard
Silverberg then provided an update on upcoming events and called on Roy
Albiston to conduct the Open Forum where questions are asked and answered
about Expat living in Thailand; Pattaya in particular.
For more information about the many activities of the Pattaya City Expats
Club, visit their website at
www.pattayacityexpatsclub.com.
For more about Dr Mano, visit:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hsMOUB0nuA
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Victory church installs 2 new pastors
Fred and Dianne Doell say goodbye at
their farewell party.
Elfi Seitz
A Filipino choir highlighted the festivities as the couple which has led the
Victory International Family Church for the past 15 years turned over the pulpit
to a pair of successors.
The Feb. 17 prayer meeting in a Royal Twin Hotel meeting hall was crowded with
believers and guests from other Pattaya-area churches. All of them came to bid
farewell to Fred and Dianne Doell, who’ve led the VIFC as head pastors.
Australian couple Allan and Rhonda Ward take over for the Doells and were
formally installed as reverends by Rev. Jonathan Vikars who, with his wife Judy,
lead the VIFC chapter in Chiang Mai.
The new pastors, Rhonda and Allan
Ward are welcomed to Pattaya.
The Doells became well-known for their charity work,
especially on behalf of children in Pattaya and Bangkok. Their most notable
achievement was the founding of the Mercy Center.
In their farewell speeches, both said they would never forget the many years
they spent in Pattaya. “But we will be preserved although we are not longer the
reverends,” they said. “We will still live in Pattaya and will help the new
reverend couple as best we can. This farewell only means that we have a little
bit more time for ourselves and for investing our energy in new projects.”
The Wards said they look forward to their new post with enthusiasm. They added
they will do everything imaginable to lead the church with success and trust in
God.
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Luciano Sandrone comes for dinner at Mantra
Dr. Cristian Maddalena, the export manager for
Sandrone, and Piyawan Niruntraporn.
Dr. Iain Corness
The Mantra restaurant has always dared to be a little different, and the
Sandrone Wine Dinner was no exception. Handled in Thailand by Vanichwathana
(Bangkok), the dinner introduced Sandrone wines to some of Pattaya’s wine
drinking connoisseurs.
To expound on the various wines was Dr. Cristian Maddalena, the export manager
for Sandrone, a passionate man about wines, who understands oenology and the
individuality of winemakers. As he stressed, the Sandrone wines are in the style
of Luciano Sandrone himself, with his own stamp upon them.
The first wine was a Luciano Sandrone Dolcetto d’Alba 2009. This was pleasant,
without being memorable, and was taken with a lamb shank parcel which was an
excellent item from Mantra’s Australian chef Leonard Faust.
The choice for the main course included snow fish.
The second course was a wild mushroom soup with a splash of black truffle. This
was just superb, hot to the table and plenty of it. (There is a tendency these
days to serve soups in a demi-tasse!) The wine with this course was the Luciano
Sandrone Barebera d’Alba 2007, also superb, and the evening’s favorite for most
of the diners.
The main course was a choice of snow fish or beef tenderloin, and the organizers
of the dinner very cleverly had two different wines for the different choices.
With the fish was a Luciano Sandrone Nebbiolo d’Alba “Valmaggiore” 2008 and with
the beef it was a Luciano Sandrone Barolo Le Vigne 2008. I sampled both, whilst
the Valmaggiore was good, the Barolo was even better. I picked that wine as the
wine of the evening, a wine that you can drink just for the sheer pleasure of
imbibing.
The Mantra dinner introduced Sandrone wines to some
of Pattaya’s wine drinking connoisseurs.
A cheese assortment was next with the Valmaggiore continuing into this course,
and then we came to the dessert. Dr. Cristian explained that he had no sweet
wine in his Sandrone portfolio, but had instead brought some Barolo Chinato,
distilled from a 600 hundred year old recipe, originally for medicinal purposes.
This was a great shock to the palate, and needed the chocolate and raspberry
mousse to sweeten it up. It should stay in the medicine cupboard, rather than
the wine rack!
However, it was really a very enjoyable evening and Dr. Cristian and Amy from
the Mantra, ensured all guests left smiling and replete!
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Green theme for St. Patrick’s Day Parade through Pattaya
Celebrations begin March 10
A day for everyone to celebrate and have a lot of
fun.
Derek Franklin
St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland and each year on the 17th of
March his day is celebrated in cities and towns around the world. From Sydney to
New York, London to Moscow, Boston to Pattaya and every village, town and city
in Ireland people will come together enjoy this feast day.
This annual charity event is organized here in Pattaya in conjunction with City
Hall, the Father Ray Foundation and the local Irish community and they promise
this year’s parade will be bigger and better than previous years. All proceeds
will be donated to the Father Ray Foundation, Pattaya’s largest charitable
organization.
The 2013 celebrations will commence on the afternoon of Sunday the 10th of March
when several teams will compete in a Gaelic Football tournament and an
international tug-of-war competition. This will take place on the playing field
at Arunothai School, just off Pattaya Central Road opposite Big C Xtra, and
everyone is invited to watch or participate if you think you are strong enough.
Saint Patrick will be in Pattaya to lead the parade.
Before the parade starts on the afternoon of Sunday the 17th there will be a
whole day of Irish culture and entertainment in the grounds of Alcazar Theatre
on Second Road. Traditional Irish music and dancing, magic shows, face painting,
beer drinking competitions, break-dancers and free food, including Irish stew,
will keep everyone entertained until the hour arrives for the parade to start.
It is at Alcazar Theatre that all marching bands, decorated floats and marchers
will gather before the parade starts at 14:00. Led by St. Patrick, the parade
will move down Soi 4 before turning left onto Beach Road. The parade will make
its way towards Walking Street where it will turn left before coming to an end
on South Pattaya Road in the grounds of School No. 8.
 Wear
whatever you like for the parade, as long as it is green.
Once all marchers and floats have arrived at School No. 8 the fun will continue
with entertainment performed by singers, musicians and dancers who are flying in
from the Emerald Isle especially to entertain the people of Pattaya.
For more information please email Ajima at the Father Ray
[email protected]
or call her on 0895 059 058.
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