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Buddhist Lent begins next week
Asarnha Bucha Day July 24, Khao Pansaa July 25
Buddhist Lent, or “Khao Pansaa”
begins next Thursday, July 25. Asarnha Bucha Day, an important holy day
for Buddhists, this year is being observed on Wednesday, July 24.
The Buddhist Holy Day of Asarnha Bucha falls on the
15th night (15 kham) of the full moon during the eighth month of the
Buddhist Lunar calendar, this year equating to July 24. Asarnha Bucha
means paying homage and worshiping on the day identified according to the
lunar calendar during the eighth month, Asarnha being the name of the
eighth month in the Pali language.
Asarnha Bucha Day is worshipped because of three
important events occurring on the day called the “Triple Gem”
commemorating the first sermon given by the Buddha called the
“Dhammachakapavattama Sutta” concerning the “Four Noble Truths”
presented to the Buddha’s first five disciples. The sermon set in motion
the “Wheel of Dhamma”, which is the meaning of “Dhammachaka”.
The sermon concluded that 1. All things are a source of
suffering from the constant cycle of birth, disease, old age and death. 2.
Desire or the inability to obtain what one desires is the cause of
suffering resulting from cause and effect. 3. Freedom from suffering can
be obtained after the complete cessation of desire. 4. The last of the
Four Noble Truths is the “Middle Way”, or the path between extremes of
asceticism and indulgence leading to the eliminating of desire. The
Eight-Fold Path consists of possessing the correct: Views, Resolve,
Speech, Conduct, Livelihood, Effort, Mindfulness, and Meditation (or
Concentration).
Secondly, the day is considered to be the birth of
Buddhism as the Buddha departed the location where he obtained his
enlightenment two months earlier and then coming to a forest area in the
city of Pharansi where he showed favor to five ascetics who became his
followers. Also recognized on the same day is the first person listening
to the Buddha’s sermon realizing the truths contained therein and
becoming the first Buddhist monk creating the Buddhist order “Sangha”
and is known as “Sangha Day” as well as Asarnha Bucha Day.
The Thai government established the observance of
Asarnha Bucha Day in 1958, with Buddhist Temples throughout the Kingdom
arranging ceremonies venerating the important historic events in the past.
Devout Buddhists participate in the ceremonies by presenting offerings to
the monks and listening to sermons and performing ritual prayers.
The entire day is revered and certain precepts are
adhered to by the more devout Buddhist or by those who have the
inclination and opportunity to do so. The Wientian ritual ceremony is
performed in the evening as many go to nearby temples bringing candles,
flowers and joss sticks completing three trips walking around the Temple
area sacred grounds.
“Khao Pansaa”
(July 25)
The day following the start of Buddhist Lent (Asarnha
Bucha Day) another important Buddhist Holy day begins in Thailand with the
custom called Khao Pansaa. This day falls on the first full moon (1 kham)
of the Buddhist Lunar calendar during the eighth month of every year,
which this year equates to July 25 and ends on the 15th full moon (15 kham)
of the 11th month of the Buddhist calendar or in mid-October. During a
leap year it is identified during the second eighth month.
The term “Khao Pansaa” can also translate to
entering the months of the rainy season when monks return to the temple
for the duration of the rains, usually to the temple where they were
ordained staying for approximately three months. The monks are not to
depart the temples staying overnight at any other location during the
months of rain. Although, the rainy season is considered to be longer than
three months lasting up to four or even more, monks are only required to
remain at the temples for three of the four months. During the last period
of the rainy season they can then go elsewhere when the “Katin”
ceremony is performed presenting robes to the temples.
In ancient times monks going into the temples during
the rainy season was not yet a custom and temples were not yet established
with monks roaming from one domain to another. Monks continually went
about giving sermons and instructing people in the ways of eliminating
suffering and disseminating Buddhist beliefs during the entire year. This
was unlike other religions of the time while most personages including
merchants and heretics alike refrained from travel due to the hazards and
difficulties involved.
Initially, monks traveling during the rainy season
concerned the idea that it was inappropriate to walk about during the
rainy season for monks when many small living creatures were about and the
rice crops were in the ground not to mention inclement weather. Therefore,
it was established long ago that the monks would remain in temples during
the rains for three months discussing and studying Buddhist scriptures,
following Buddhist disciplines, meditating and performing ritual
ceremonies.
The custom of Khao Pansaa has continued on to this day
with three classes of ceremonies, a Royal ceremony conducted by the King
of Thailand, ritual ceremonies for devout followers of Buddhism throughout
the Kingdom and ceremonies performed by monks in the temples.
The Royal ceremony is similar to the ceremony performed
by the general public but more elaborate as the King and members of the
Royal Family perform ritual ceremonies paying homage and presenting Khao
Pansaa candles and the traditional garments worn by Buddhist monks
including other items used in ritual ceremonies.
Other followers of Buddhism all over Thailand will
attend temples in the morning bringing in foods, necessity items, money,
the traditional candles, garments and ceremonial items for the monks with
flowers and candles in hand. For those people having devout faith they may
refrain from the recognized eight offences for the duration of the three
month rainy season just as monks do, while others may give up a single
vice, with yet others recognizing the 5-8 offences for the day.
The ceremonies performed by monks in temples revolves
around rituals accepting new monks taking the vows for periods up to the
three months with some staying even longer. Senior monks at each monastery
perform other ceremonies leading followers in worship and prayer.
The two main items presented to monks during Khao
Pansaa are the candles and garments worn by monks, specifically the
bathing robe. The candles were essential in former times and needed for
both ceremonies and studying scriptures and performing various other
functions with the candle offering developing into a custom still
followed.
The presentation of garments worn by monks is said to
have originated from methods of bathing in former times commonly done in
community areas using streams, rivers, ponds and other sources of water
with monks requiring a bathing robe. The garments worn by monks continued
to develop until the custom included presenting the entire arrangement
worn by monks.
Khao Pansaa, July 25, is recognized as a government
holiday with many others taking time from the work place recognizing the
importance of the Buddhist Holy Day. Everyone is invited to participate in
the temple ceremonies and to refrain from offensive behavior for the day
and to also make the same effort thereafter.
UNICEF threatens to trim region’s budget allocation
Says administrators need to resolve child exploitation problem
Suchada Tupchai
If local officials are unable to adequately attain
goals laid out by UNICEF, United Nations’ financial aid for children’s
rights projects in Chonburi Province will most likely be cut.
As a nation, Thailand has applied for UNICEF financial
aid for children’s rights projects around the country. Chonburi Province
has already had 2 training seminars on the project, and provincial and
local administrations say they are dedicated to resolving children’s
rights issues and are attempting to find solutions to the problem.
The 3rd United Nations’ seminar for children’s
rights will be held in the near future, and both UN and UNICEF officials
are keeping a close eye on the outcome of the work being carried out in
the area to protect children’s rights.
Deputy Governor Wirawit Wiwatanpanich, head of the
Government & Private Sectors committee charged with resolving the
issue of beggars and street children, referring to the possibility of
budget cuts said, “Losing this important resource will make operations
more difficult. We ask for cooperation from all those concerned to
continue to operate at high standards and achieve the best possible
results.”
The deputy governor made the comments at his
committee’s 3rd meeting, held at city hall on July 10. Thirty people
attended the meeting.
Deputy Governor Wirawit added that, “Currently, apart
from the issue of street children and those involved in the flesh trade,
in the smaller back sois there is a noticeably large number of children
addicted to narcotics who are begging or stealing to feed their habit.
This is creating further problems with crime, which in turn is further
degrading the city’s image. The Government & Private Sectors
Committee has requested cooperation from community groups, housekeepers,
and welfare groups to support the cause and aid in looking after those
under their care.”
Fire guts old wastewater treatment plant causing 10 million baht in damages
Police suspect the area was a hangout for drug-use
Boonlua Chatree
In the wee hours of the morning on July 10 fire broke
out at Pattaya’s old wastewater treatment plant on Soi 17 in South
Pattaya. Flames filled the sky as 10 fire trucks arrived at the scene with
police accompanied by rescue teams from Sawang Boriboon. Firefighters
fought for over an hour to control the inferno in the city’s center. The
interior of the facility was razed.
Firefighters
battle from the perimeter of the blaze, as they could not get into the
center as the fire was burning too hot.
Firemen were unable to extinguish the flames in the
center of the plant. Spraying water on surrounding areas to prevent the
flames from jumping the perimeters of the plant saved the neighboring
buildings. No lives were lost and no one was seriously injured. However,
the main functioning part of the plant was destroyed causing an estimated
10 million baht in damages.
The wastewater treatment plant is situated in a
populated area near Pattaya School #8. Fearing the worst as flames leaped
dangerously close to houses, police evacuated horrified residents from all
buildings in close proximity to the blaze.
A determination of cause will be done by provincial
fire and police forensic departments. However, after an initial
investigation, police brought 5 people in for questioning.
During an official interview, Amnuay Boonruang, Fong
Boonruang, Saeb Jantruang, Juk Wonglakorn and Phan Paochintod all told
officers that they were briefly staying with their families after recently
arriving in Pattaya. All said they were working on construction at Pattaya
School #8.
The group denied any involvement with the fire, but did
say that the area was a place where drugs were sometimes used or sold.
They had seen a group of youths hang around the vicinity for that purpose.
But they said they did not see them before they went to sleep that night.
All said they were sleeping in their shacks when the fire broke out, that
they witnessed nothing and had no idea how it began.
Mayor Pairat Suttithamrongsawat said, “This plant was
de-commissioned. The city was planning to remove the structure and the
tanks and allow Pattaya School #8 access to the land. The fire has
obviously beaten us to much of the work. But this incident is puzzling as
we have yet to find the cause. We will just have to wait for the fire
investigation team to perform a thorough investigation into this
matter.”
Interact Club installs new president at Banglamung School
“Junior version” of Rotary holds installation night
Laor Thongpradap
The local Interact Club, a junior version of Rotary,
recently held their installation night at Banglamung School where they
installed a new president and board for the year 2002-2003.
Outgoing
Interact Club president (right), Benjathip Prapreutchob presented a
certificate and handed over the reigns to the new president for 2002-2003,
Noppadol Songsoongnern.
Joining the ceremony were members from local Rotary
Clubs charged with governing the overall direction of the Interact
movement in the area.
President of the club for the year 2001-2003, Benjathip
Prapreutchob opened the ceremony by inviting Boonseub Eakakorn, past
president of the Rotary Club of Pattaya to officiate the proceedings.
Boonseub introduced and welcomed honored guests such as Bruno Keller,
president of the Rotary Club of Jomtien Pattaya 2002-2003, Premprecha
Dibbayawan, past district governor of RI District 3340, and other
Rotarians, guests and advisors to the Interact Club.
The outgoing president, Benjathip Prapreutchob awarded
certificates of appreciation to members of the board who helped run the
club the previous year. Then she handed over the reigns to the new
president for 2002-2003, Noppadol Songsoongnern. Noppadol then introduced
his new board of directors for the upcoming year under the slogan
“Mankind is our Business”.
New
Interact Club president for 2002-2003, Noppadol Songsoongnern (center)
introduced his new board of directors for the upcoming year. This year the
club will serve under the slogan, “Mankind is our Business”.
PR director for the Interact Club 2002-2003 said the
board and its members will hold their first business meeting on the 8th of
August at Banglamung School where the club will celebrate its 10th
anniversary.
The Interact movement is Rotary for children aged
between 12 and 18 years. It follows the same precepts of serving the
community and teaching its members responsibility, planning, personal
development and service above self.
Projects run by the local Interact Club entail keeping
the beaches clean, preserving community service and support of various
youth projects. The Interact Club is now preparing for a regional assembly
involving 4 countries, a youth camp and the Rotary Youth Leadership
Awards.
City hosts sporting competition for kids
Part of Pattaya’s commitment to drug prevention
Suchada Tupchai
Last week Mayor Pairat Suttithamrongsawat led city
fathers in the opening of the Children’s Sports for Drug Prevention
Project, which was attended by hundreds of people at Pattaya School No. 7.
Cheerleaders
lead the cheers against drugs at the Children’s Sports for Drug
Prevention Project last week at Pattaya School No. 7.
The sporting event was part of the city’s commitment
to eradicate drug abuse among young people, promote health and teach them
to manage their time in wholesome ways. The event included two types of
events: football (soccer) and sack races.
The football competition was the most popular, as ten
teams competed in a round-robin competition beginning July 6. The
finalists battling for the title were Nongpungkae community vs. Wat
Songlom community. Nongpungkae defeated Wat Songlom 4 goals to zero. The
wholesome sack races followed.
The mayor said, “These sporting activities not only
help children’s physical development but sport also relieves stress and
develops their ability to make decisions. Competitors learn sportsmanship,
win or lose, whether they like it or not. They also learn about teamwork,
unity and find wholesome outlets for spare time and excess energy.”
Representatives from each of Pattaya’s communities
were then presented with sporting equipment, which was followed by the
opening of the finals of the football competition.
Seven-month-old baby left abandoned under tree in downtown Pattaya
Now in the care of the orphanage
Vichan Pladplueng
Poverty can sometimes drive people to unspeakable acts.
Last week, such an act occurred just off Soi 5 Sukhumvit Road in Central
Pattaya. Presumably, a young mother left her seven-month-old baby boy
under a tree, then ran away.
 A
rescue worker looks after the infant boy who had been abandoned under a
tree near Sukhumvit Soi 5, central Pattaya. The infant is now in the kind
care of the Pattaya Orphanage.
Pol. Maj. Supoj Kasemchaiyonont, Banglamung police
chief received the report on the afternoon of July 8, that an infant boy
had been found abandoned. Arriving at the scene, police officers and
Sawang Boriboon personnel found a crying child wrapped in a towel lying
underneath a large tree.
Police took the child to the Banglamung Hospital for a
check up, where doctors reported that the baby was in good health. Nursing
staff took the little boy into their care while police searched for his
mother.
When officers returned to the area where the baby was
found a motorcycle taxi driver named Damrong said he had witnessed a woman
between 20-25 years in that area. According to Damrong he saw her place
something under the big tree, then the young woman ran to the street and
jumped into a light blue baht-bus heading south towards Huay Yai. Damrong
went over to see what the woman had left behind, found the baby and called
the police.
The baby has since been transferred from Banglamung
Hospital to the Redemptorist Orphanage.
Tourist police successful in manhunt for notorious German bank robber
Caught in Nong Khai Province tending his pig farm
Boonlua Chatree
Mathias Schuler was the subject of a manhunt by tourist
police after they received reports that he was a wanted criminal hiding in
the Pattaya area.
Schuler was wanted by German authorities for his
alleged connection with the robbery of the Raiffeisen Bank involving a
haul of millions of marks on December 28, 2001. Police believe he fled to
Thailand one day later.
 Notorious
(alleged) German bank robber Mathias Schuler was caught in Nong Khai
Province whilst tending his pig farm.
Following an investigation by the National Tourist
Police Bureau, information revealed that Schuler had lived in Pattaya and
that he had married a 27-year-old Thai woman identified as Thitiwan Tremek.
But the couple left Pattaya and moved to Nong Khai in
Thailand’s northeastern region, which borders Laos. Here the pair
purchased a farm and began raising pigs.
Armed with enough information, Pol. Lt. Gen. Sanit
Meephan, head of the Thailand’s tourist police, passed it to Pol. Lt.
Gen Sukij Udomset, chief of the provincial police bureau in Nong Khai
Province.
The German Embassy was then informed, and police
thought it was about time to pay Schuler a visit. Pattaya tourist police
officer Pol. Maj. Naradech Klumtuksing and officers from Nong Khai went to
Schuler’s home and had an interview with him.
Schuler denied all knowledge of the bank robbery, but
police were able to detain him on a technicality - he did not produce his
passport. Therefore officers were able to transfer him to the Immigration
Department in Nong Khai where he may face deportation.
Following the arrest, Pol. Lt. Gen. Sanit Meephan said
that according to the information given to Thailand’s law enforcement
network, this man was wanted in Germany for a serious crime and was
considered a dangerous criminal with a long list of previous offences.
Pol. Lt. Gen. Sanit said that should members of the
public suspect that any foreigner was acting in an overly suspicious
manner or exhibiting criminal characteristics, they should inform the
local police or the tourist police so appropriate departments could look
into the matter and prevent any potentially dangerous incidents.
Vendors arrested for selling pornographic CDs and magazines
Charged with dealing in illegal and obscene material
Boonlua Chatree
This week police officers from Pattaya’s Special
Crime Prevention Unit led a raid on local porn merchants after an
investigation into reports they were operating out of the local market on
Soi Buakow.
On the evening of the raid undercover officers made
their rounds scouting the market and pounced on two vendors selling the
illicit merchandise.
 Grich
Sornake and Jarun Parbnoodam were arrested and charged with dealing in
illegal and obscene material after police caught them with 44 pornographic
CDs and 59 porn magazines.
During the raid officers netted 44 pornographic CDs
depicting graphic sexual acts and 59 magazines with similar content.
The vendors arrested were identified as 26 year old
Grich Sornake and Jarun Parbnoodam, aged 35. Both confessed to selling the
merchandise in Pattaya for a hefty profit after purchasing the material in
Bangkok. They described how they bought the CDs for 30 baht and sold them
to foreign residents and tourists for 120 baht.
The two men were charged with dealing in illegal and
obscene material.
Hi society lad confesses to drug dealing
A police team raided a room in Niran Grand Condo and
arrested Wichai Tirachoopan, age 24, from Jomthong, Bangkok.
 Wichai
Tirachoopan (right) was caught with a cache of illegal drugs, which he
confessed he sold to the Bangkok elite visiting Pattaya’s discotheques
and pubs.
Wichai was caught with 520 ecstasy pills and 11 tubes
of liquid ketamine. During police interrogation, they learned that Wichai
was one of the well-known hi-society lads from Bangkok. He said he
obtained his drugs 3-4 times a week from a Mrs. Ple, also from Bangkok. He
said he then sold them to the Bangkok elite visiting Pattaya’s
discotheques and pubs.
Wichai is now under police custody waiting for his
lo-society trial.
Something’s rotten in Pong
Residents angry over 100 tons of rotting garbage
Vichan Pladplueng
Pong residents say lazy officials from the Pong
District Administration organization have dumped an accumulation of 100
tons of rotting garbage on a 3-rai plot of land close to their cassava and
pineapple fields. On July 8th, residents from the village called the local
press for assistance in getting their plight known. They want to get rid
of the stinking mess.
 Pong
residents say lazy officials from the Pong District Administration
organization are responsible for an accumulation of 100 tons of rotting
garbage on a 3-rai plot of land close to their cassava and pineapple
fields, and they want it removed.
Local reporters traveled to the site to inspect the
dumping ground just 500 meters off Sukhumvit Road. They found 1 rai of
rotting garbage and millions of flies feeding on the decaying waste. Close
by were fields of cassava and pineapple, planted by local farmers. The
stench of the waste was suffocating and filled every nook and cranny
within the surrounding fields and villages.
One resident living near the dumpsite, Sant Boonbumrung,
told reporters, “The problem began about a year ago when we (villagers)
got together and presented the district administrators with a petition to
look after the dump site. Since then not a single person has come to look
at the area.”
Sant said, “Now the dump is seriously affecting the
residents, the terrible smell and the flies are particularly unbearable.
Flies breed disease and we are not only fearful for our crops but for the
health of our families. When it rains the water flows onto the road and
into villages and fields and this seriously affects the crops.”
Reporters then questioned the head of the Pong District
Administration Organization, Pranerm Siriroop. He defended the
administration’s actions by saying, “The district has no other site in
which to dispose of its waste. We have only one six-wheel truck to service
the area. We have asked those responsible to inspect the area constantly.
“The administration received a budget allocation to
purchase land for a new waste disposal site. We have had two offers from
private parties, the first being a 15 rai plot at the price of 140,000
baht per rai and the second a 10 rai plot at the total price of 650,000
baht. The council is now considering these two options. The administration
wants the residents to understand that the administrators are not ignoring
the issue but, as we have a relatively small budget allocation we can only
solve the problem a little at a time,” Pranerm said
Pong District covers 9 villages and approximately 1,279
families. Most are employed by companies or are farmers. The district
collects 40 baht per month per household for garbage collection service.
In reality the problem lays with the provincial waste
control project, still yet to be completed. There seems to be no
coordination between Pong District and Khao Mai Keaw District. Khao Mai
Keaw is where Pattaya City has its waste disposal site, just 10 kilometers
from the Pong District disposal site.
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