น.ส. เจนนิเฟอร์ สตีเว่นส์: News and politics

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Tue, 04 Mar 2008 21:09:27 GMT

Well, made the trip back to the US safe and sound. All is well. Now, I'm staying with my friends Heidi and Dom. We're having a blast with the baby, Mathew. Very cool. Those of you who are on this side of the world, see you soon! And for those of you who are still at Home 1 (Thailand), Keep looking for letters. ;)
ciao

New School Logo?!?!?!?!

Sat, 08 Dec 2007 13:52:53 GMT

About a month ago, some students at the high school where I work got into a fight. The Principal and some other teachers as punishment, in lieu of being expelled, decided to take the "scarlet letter" approach. The students involved in the incident are required to wear a special uniform and do odd jobs around the school. Though this is supposed to be on top of their normal responsibilities as students, it has become an excuse to skip out on all of their classes and become something of a gang. They hang out by their motorcycles all day until a teacher or administrator has them do some menial task, like carry their umbrella or plug something in. The thing about the uniform is, that the students chose a jumpsuit with a huge marijuana leaf logo on the back and another marijuana leaf logo on the sleeve. Then they had the school logo sewn onto the front. The teachers and administrators at the school are completely oblivious that the logo is drug paraphernalia (How can you not know that?!). When Chris (the other foreigner teacher at the high school) and I told the teachers responsible for those particular students about the logo, they were quite disbelieving. So, they asked the students, and we all know how that turned out. The students responded that it is just a tea leaf. :P So, now our students are running all over the school and Udonthani with the school logo on the front of their jumpsuits and a marijuana leaf on the back. Welcome to Weed High! I'll post some pics of the unis as soon as I can. Only in Thailand, and maybe Colombia...

English school in my house

Sat, 08 Dec 2007 13:23:28 GMT

Hi there. Some of you wanted to see pics of the school at my house. Here are a few. I can't make it into a photo album for some reason. m The connection still keeps resetting itself. I'm sure it's my fault, but I don't know how to fix it. :P

Bangkok Bombings

Tue, 02 Jan 2007 04:35:37 GMT

This New years eve was very eventful to say the least. In stead of the planned fireworks, Bangkokians were greeted in the New Year by bomb blasts at key areas throghout the city. So far, three people have dies, several more are in critical condition, and many others were injured. I am not sure of the exact numbers because the media has not been consistent in its reporting. As of now, no group has claimed responsibility for the bombings, and we are all really wondering about the purpose of the whole thing. Currently the media is blaming sympathizers of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Chinawattra, but that doesn't make much sense to us or the Thai people. Additional bombs were found prior to explosion in several areas, including Pataya, which is outside the Bangkok area.

I just want to let you know that all of us here are alright. Please pray for the Thai government to be able to place all of this at rest quickly and for the safety of Bangkokians. Although I do not live in Bangkok, I often have to travel there for business purposes and also to visit friends and colleagues. May the Lord bless you and be gracious to you in the new year!

60th Anniversary of His Majesty King Bumibol's Ascession to the throne

Wed, 21 Jun 2006 07:03:55 GMT

His Majesty King Bumibol celebrated the 60th year of his reign with tremendous pomp, and rightly so. I had never experienced such love and respect for governmental authority until I came to Thailand. The Thai people literally love their King. It may be because he has devoted his life to their health and happiness, and works tirelessly and selflessly to acheive that goal. He can even make it rain! King Bumibol is probably the most talented person I have ever encountered. There really isn't anything he cannot do; he speaks MANY languages fluently, he is a world class musician, a world class photographer, a scientist, a horticulturist, an olympic class sailor, an engineer, and author and so much more that if I were to name all of them this blog would become a book.

This anniversary makes him the world's longest reigning monarch. The Thai people decided to wear yellow chirts bearing the King's logo and gold bracelets imprinted with the words, "Long Live The King" in Thai and English. Monarchies or representatives of monarchies from 25 countries came to Thailand to Celebrate with the King, and many others sent formal congratulation letters and gifts. In honor of those who did come, King Bumibol arranged for a special royal barge procession down the Chao Phraya River. All together, there were 52 barges. I was up in Bangkok on the day they had the dress rehearsal. I hope you enjoy the pictures!

ทรงพระเจริญ Long live the King

Peuch MongKol and Wisakha Bucha 11-12 May

Wed, 17 May 2006 03:47:35 GMT

11 May Prapani Peuch MongKol

12 May
(lunar calendar) : Visakha Bucha Day

Here is the Royal Thai Ministry of Agrculture's report on the ploughing and morale raising ceremony:

Subject : Royal Ploughing Ceremony 2006

A royal ploughing ceremony has been combined by 2 royal ceremonies comprising of the royal ploughing that is Buddhist ritual which the first day of this ceremony is performed in a monastery in the Temple of Emerald Buddha and the royal ploughing for morale raising ceremony that is Brahman ritual performed at Phra Meru Ground. A royal ploughing for morale raising ceremony or shortly called ploughing ceremony has been a long existing royal ceremony since Sukhothai was the capital city. During Sukhothai Age the king did not plough up the field by himself, on the contrary, he merely presided at the royal ceremony. In Ayudhya Age, the king did not attend nor preside over such ceremony as in Sukhothai Age; nonetheless, an absolute power was assigned to his representative acting on behalf of him whilst he would silently keep the Buddhist precepts for 3 days. This method was implemented until late Ayudhya Age. In Rattanakosin Age this royal ceremony had been performed since the reign of King Rama I, yet the ploughman was replaced by Chaopraya Paholtep along with the leading at an annual swing ceremony. Under the reign of King Rama III the tradition was slightly altered which anyone presiding at the annual swing ceremony would automatically resume the position of a ploughman as well. Later on, King Rama IV had a royal command of more Buddhist rituals to be performed in all royal ceremonies, hence, the royal ploughing ceremony had occurred ever since.

In combination with the royal ploughing for morale raising ceremony,

“Ploughing that is a ruler’s accountability in the kingdom is an ancient tradition, for example, four thousand years ago the emperor of China performed the first ploughing and the empress grew silkworms. Additionally, any existing documents in Siam constantly refer to the ploughing. With regard to a ruler’s active involvement, it is intended to present good example to populace and lead to concentration and diligence on paddy farming which is essential for earning a living, resulting in stability and prosperity of the city. Not only the sample ploughing like all farmers normally conduct but also various ceremonies are performed due to fear of harm such as excessive or too few rainwater, harmful weevil, aphid and other pests causing less productivity. With a desire to obtain full advantage of crop growing, it is necessary to discover the means of rectification, support and prediction for more confidence based on an earnest vow, good and harmless deed in accordance with Buddhist scruples, propitiation to a spirit by a sacrifice in black magic, enabling comfort and confidence to fulfill an infinite desire of humans.” Therefore, it shows that the purpose of ploughing ceremony is to set an example for populace and convince them to have complete confidence in paddy farming. Despite a necessity for the country in ancient time, it still remains in that aspect at present time because agriculture mainly based on paddy farming is vital to people’s living and national economics. Regarding three rituals apart from being a good example, two of them describing “an earnest vow, good and harmless deed in accordance with Buddhist scruples” imply the ploughing for morale raising ceremony which is Brahman ritual. The royal ploughing ceremony represents a formal ritual for fortune, prosperity and morale raising to agriculturists which is usually held in the sixth month of every year considered as an appropriate period to commence paddy farming - - a major career of Thai populace. Nevertheless, ceremonial date is not specified like any other royal ceremonies. Any traditionally apposite and auspicious day in the sixth month or May would be applicable. Royal ploughing ceremony was lastly held in full format in 1936 and absent for quite a long time. Until 1960 the cabinet had a consensus to reform and carry it out in consecutive years to the present day considered as maintenance of graceful royal tradition and effect of morale raising on Thai populace. Later, His Majesty King Bhumibol had a royal command to improve some formalities suitable for modern age, moreover, he has presided at this royal ceremony every year. Upon the reform of royal ploughing ceremony in early day, Lord Ploughman was a Director General of Department of Rice and four goddesses were selected from senior government officials’ wives in the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives. [In 1960 Momchao Chakrapanpensiri Chakrapan (1953-1961), Director General of Department of Rice, was Lord Ploughman in a royal ceremony which was held on May 10, 1960 at Phra Meru Ground.] Later, a position of Lord Ploughman was resumed by Permanent Secretary for Agriculture and Cooperatives, and goddesses of silver and gold loads were selected from single female civil servants with a rank of second-grade or higher in the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives. Royal ploughing ceremony is a ritual to bring spirits of grain and rice which His Majesty the King shall make a wish for their fruitfulness in the kingdom of Thailand. In addition, rice is considered as main food for overall populace and called Puppanna or Buppanna or Buppannachart in Pali language while other crops so-called Apparanna or Apparannachart refer to beans and sesame, etc. In combination with both, it is called Buppanna-parannachart meaning all kinds of crops. Buppanna-parannachart brought into the royal ploughing ceremony is comprised of paddy, rice, glutinous rice as well as 40 various kinds of seeds that each kind is contained in white cloth packet along with assorted taros and yams. Unquestionably, these grains and crops can be well thrived. Moreover, paddy scattered in the ploughing ceremony and contained in a pair of gold baskets is a fine strain of grain that is grown in Chitralada Palace and given for the ceremony. Some of this grain will usually be scattered in the ceremony and the rest will be contained in packets by the officials and distributed to farmers and general populace in different provinces for fortune and prosperity to crops that will be grown this year. The past cabinet also had a consensus to set the Royal Ploughing Ceremony Day as annual Farmer’s Day in 1966 henceforth. In order that persons in agricultural career shall realize and embrace the significance of agriculture and collaborate in the royal ploughing ceremony for their own fortune and prosperity as well as national economic interest, the ceremonies of Farmer’s Day and royal ploughing have been performed together throughout. Declaration of the Royal Ploughing Ceremony Declaration of the royal ploughing ceremony was written as text of a sermon in Pali language by King Rama IV. Upon finishing a read in Sorapanya rhythm, Thai prose describing 4 wishes would be profoundly recited as follows. No. 1 It is a saying to praise the kindness of the Buddha who is able to cease the misery, maintain peaceful mind and spirit, and establish great virtue to Buddhist followers. Though the world is heated up by passion and greed, eternal scruples are able to flourish owing to his high prestige. Now we shall worship the Buddha, his teachings and monk prior to growing the grain implying great merit which its seed represents profound knowledge that could relieve misery in this world. Merit produces many positive consequences in the present and future. May the grain we scatter, in other words merit, provide us desirable outcome and may the cultivated paddy sprouts as well as any crops in the area throughout a kingdom flourish in timely fashion without any damages. No. 2 Text of a sermon expressed by the Buddha regarding metaphors of his own paddy farming to Brahman farmer implies to “faith – our grain, tolerance – diligence, burn a sin – raindrop, wisdom and knowledge – yoke and plough, shame – ploughshare, mind – string, consciousness – awareness of decent manner and proper intake of food, honesty – faucet, placidity – plough release, and endeavor – labor. A plough symbolizes the vehicle leading to pleasant place where is detached from all bonds and no returning path nor sorrow. Our ploughing results in eternity and immortality, thus, individual performing this ploughing shall be relieved from all agonies.” Consequently, a wish shall be made based on truthful words of Buddha. With the power of truth, may the cultivated paddy sprouts and crops flourish throughout the kingdom. No. 3 Text of a sermon that is proverb of Bodhisattva (one who seeks salvation for others) describes that “As for individual who does not harm his ally, the cow and scattered grain on his field shall thrive. As a result, he shall obtain and consume the produce of scattered seeds.” and “As for individual who does not harm his ally, any foe cannot trample upon him as if a banyan has strong and thriving roots which cannot be destroyed by a storm.” To make a vow with the power of veracity, may the cultivated paddy sprouts and crops flourish throughout the kingdom. No. 4 Referring to the king’s kind and munificent mind and intention to bring about prosperity and peace to populace, with the power of truth, may the cultivated paddy sprouts and crops flourish throughout the kingdom. Next, a sacred image of Buddha so-called “Pra-kantaraj” with magical power of controlling the rain is mentioned. It is an important idol in this royal ceremony and its legend is recited in chronological sequence. In the past, King Rama I ordered a new cast of it to be placed in the royal ceremony ever since. Then, consequence of good deed performed by a king in this royal ceremony shall be contributed to all angels. Wishes are made for plenteous food and seasonal rain. Lastly, monks shall say a prayer at the end of royal ploughing ceremony. Besides, a royal ploughing for morale raising ceremony (ploughing day) that is Brahman ritual is customarily performed at Phra Meru Ground where pavilion is set up for placing essential graven images such as Siva, Pra-brahma, Pra-narai, Pra-umapakawadee, Pra-mahavikanes, Pra-lak, Pra-poltep and Pra-Kousupparaj. At night a Brahman great master shall perform ritual of propitiation to a spirit by a sacrifice for fruitfulness of crops. Regarding the royal ploughing ceremony in 2005, a cloth for making the attire drawn by Lord Ploughman can be interpreted by a royal astrologer as follows. Cloth for making the attire. Prophecy: Large quantity of water. Paddy farming on high ground shall be productive. Paddy farming on lowlands may be damaged at some degree and unable to fully produce. Random guess when royal cows have a feast. This year the royal cows eat Corn Prophecy: Productive rice and fruit. Bean, sesame Prophecy: Abundant fruit and food. Grass Prophecy: There shall be plenteous water as well as rice, fruit, food and meat.

Commemorates the birth, Enlightenment and death of the Buddha.
This is the holiest of holydays.

They believe that Buddha was born, obtained enlightnment and died all on the same day (different years of course). It's kind of funny though, because some people maintain that having obtained enlightenment, Buddha simply ceased to exist - vanished. If this is the case, then how can he obtain enlightenment and die as well? If he died, then doesn't that automatically imply that the cycle if death and birth wouold continue?