Thai Ways
Kacey Abbott
University of Utah PRT 3610
11/22/2013
The book that I chose to review is Thai Ways. The book is written by Denis Segaller and he is the main character to the book. The book is written from his point of view and it is all about his experiences while living in Thailand. Denis Segaller was born in London, England in 1915. He studied at London University and earned his B.S. degree in physics. He later found his calling in making documentary films. During World War II he made films on radar for the British government. Starting in 1945 Segaller produced documentaries, educational, and scientific films for the Shell Film Unit in London. Segaller’s first visit to Thailand was in 1965 when he traveled there as a film consultant. He became very fond of the country and eventually made Bangkok he permanent home.
(Denis Segaller, n.d.)
Nine years later, at the age of 59, he switched to journalism and became one of Thailand's best-known writer in the English language. "Thai Ways", his regular weekly column, has been running in the Bangkok World since August 1975. It aims to give Westerners some insight into the people of Thailand, how they live, and how they react to life's varied situations - as seen through the eyes of an Englishman.
Denis is now a staff writer and sub-editor at the Bangkok Post and Bangkok World. He became a Buddhist, spent a month in the monkhood in a temple just outside Bangkok, and meditates regularly every day.
This book is broken into sections of the differences between Thai culture and western culture. The sections are given heading such as Royalty and Nobility, Festivals, and Beliefs and Superstitions. This book was very interesting for me, it provided me a lot of insight on how d...
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...ai ideals. Although the book is a bit out of date most of the stories are still relevant to Thai culture. There will obviously be some differences to modernization but the rural areas will especially stay near the same. I have been interested in traveling to Thailand for a while now and I’m glad that I was able to read and review this book. It makes Thailand sound like a great place like I have heard from many friends who have traveled there. Who knows maybe I will end up living there as Segaller did.
References
Cantatore, S. Q. (2005). Culturosity. Retrieved from Where Growing Minds Go Global...: Culturosity.com
Denis Segaller. (n.d.). Retrieved from Shelfari: http://www.shelfari.com/authors/a1024536/Denis-Segaller/
Fuoco, K. (2012, July 16). Top 10 Ways to Deal With Culture Shock.
Pelton, R. Y. (2005, August). One-Man Show. National Geographic Adventure.
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Cocaine made her a schizophrenic. In Tall Tales from the Mekong Delta, Kate Braverman writes about a cocaine addicted mother going through drug and alcohol counseling and rehab. She is a creative writing teacher and gains inspiration from her drug trips. The teacher is referred to as "she" throughout the story and fights her addictions that manifest into a scrappy looking man named Lenny. Through the voice of addiction, the change in Lenny's appearance and the role of colors, it is evident that a physical dependence on mind altering drugs cannot be escaped.
Edwardes, Michael. Ed. A Life of the Buddha - From a Burmese Manuscript. The Folio Society, London; 1959
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Steinglass, Matt.”Reading Tim O’Brien in Hanoi.” The New York Times Book Review 4 Apr.2010: 27(L). Literature Resource Center. Web May 11 2014.
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*** Common sense is an important attribute to have wherever you are in the world. Much of what you need to know and remember while in Thailand or anywhere is common sense. For some reason though, common sense is one of the first things men forget when they come to Thailand. The words of wisdom in this chapter can be applied just anywhere in the world. While I am certain those reading (and writing) this book are well endowed with common sense, nevertheless, I suggest you read it anyway. If one of these items jogs your memory at a later date, it might very well save you time, money, or your life.
Gordan uses the biographies, memoirs, and diaries of men living in ancient Asia to explain this broad and complex world. One of those men is Xuanzang. Under his brothers training he grew up a young monk and entered monastery in Luoyang at 13. It was there that Xuanzang studied, learned, & meditated about Buddhism. In 623, defying his older brother Xuanzang left their monastery to travel and hear oral teachings. He traveled through Henan, preaching and gaining fame. However by age 26, after listening to many oral teachings, he became unsatisfied because there were so many schools of thought and he did not know which doctrine to follow. He decided to travel to the center of Buddhism to find answers but the quest faced difficulties in the beginning as the Tang government forbade commoners to travel west, so his journey was illegal and a warrant for arres...
Thích Nh’at Hanh is a world renowned Vietnamese Zen Buddhist monk, religious figure and accomplished writer. Living Buddha, Living Christ is only one of his many famous publications. Thích Nh’at Hanh, is famous for his insights into spiritual heritage and mindfulness in the present moment. Many Americans are seeking religious understanding and personal spirituality, even if they do not practice in the traditional manner. Throughout this book Nh’at Hang encourages readers to find meaning, understanding, mindfulness, and peace in the teachings of Buddha and Christ. His main focus is to open meaningful dialogue between different traditions, cultures, and religious groups around the world, for the betterment
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As I already mentioned, the number of kathoey´s in Thailand is surpassing, and the origin of this appearance might lie in Religion. The main religion in Thailand is Buddhism, about 95% of the population are Buddhists (3) who follow the rules of this religion in their everyday life. The Thai- Buddhism is called "Theravada Buddhism" and it is a localized form of the original Buddhism which has it's origin in Indian Hinduism (3). The development from the original form to the "modern" Thai Buddhism took place over many years, "the tension between the teachings of the Theravada Buddhism and the Thai animistic practice" (2).This tension was resolved by "appropriating those elements of the Buddhism doctrine that are compatible with animistic thinking and basic human experience."(2). The result of this development of religion is that "institutional and ritual expressions of Thai religion appear to be very Buddhistic indeed, but its characteristic mentality is not so much interested in the moral message of the Theravada as in auspiciousness, worldly continuity and the manipulation of saksit (supernatural "sacred") power"(2).
One central theme of The Dharma Bums is Buddhism. One of the most important things to note about the religion in this book is the two forms it takes, and the significance these forms have on the plot and meaning of the book. Ray Smith is a neophyte in the school of Theraveda Buddhism, which is a school dedicated to movement towards enlightenment. Under the teaching of the Theraveda canon, everything a person does should be done with the end goal of perso...
2. Journey from the Fall. Dir. Ham Tran. Perf. Kieu Chinh and Long Nguyen and Diem
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