1. Interview onAnimistBeliefinThailand
PimployThirati
1
Name: BuppaThirati Age:54
Occupation: FormerEGAT employee (earlyretired)
Relationshipto the interviewer:Mother
Language in which interviewwasconducted: Thai and English
Date of interview:19th
March 2010 Place of interview:My house
1. Howwould you summarizeBuddhismin a few sentences?
I wouldsayBuddhismteacheseveryone totake the middle pathandthatall the painand
sufferingcomesonlyfromwithinone’sself.
2. Howdo you practice yourbeliefs?
I occasionallyprayinfrontof a Buddhaamuletandmeditate fora while tofree mymind.Most
people believe thatinordertoget gooddeedsandgoodkarma, theyhave to go to the temples
everydayanddonate asmuch as theycan to the monksbut inreality,if people donatemore
than theyhave,howisthat beneficial tothem?Ithinkthe bestthingwe can do isverysimple;
we can just prayfor those sufferingspiritsthatare notfree fromtheir bad karma.By meditating
and wishforotherunfortunate souls,we will gainmore gooddeeds.Of course helpingothers
physicallyisimportanttoobutyoumay gainnothingif you’re justdoingthatjustto gainsome
gooddeeds.
3. Howoften do you visit the templeor the spirit house?Whatdo you do there?
I reallywishIcouldvisitthe temple more oftenbutthere are otherthingsinlife thatIhave to
take care of such as work and family. Now that I’m retired, I have more time to go to the temple.
I used to spendone weekata temple inthe forestlastyear;itwas an amazingexperience.We
wore white clothsandmeditate alone inaquietpeacefulenvironment.
4. Do you havean amulet?What doesit representsand whatis significantaboutthisparticular
amulet?
I have manyamulets;mostof themwere giventome as a gift.Well,Idon’twearone aroundmy
neck;my necklace isactuallyapicture of my parents.I have one inmy handbag whichI carry
aroundwithme all the time.Thisone wasgiventome frommy fatherandit isof a famous
monk.The amuletisthere as a reminderforme to thinkof all the BuddhistteachingsthatI
knowand sometimesIbelieve itisaspiritual protection.

2. Interview onAnimistBeliefinThailand
PimployThirati
2
5. Do you believe in ghosts?Whatare yourthoughtson ghostsand spirits?
I do believe inspirits;Ithinktheyexistandare presentamongusbut we cannotsee them.They
are those soulsthatare still wanderingaroundbecause theydon’thave aplace ora bodyto go
yet.I thinkourlifetime islike avoyage.Oursoul lives inabodyor a boat that doesn’tbelongto
us and eventuallywill be brokendown.Some mayreachthe otherside orthe nirvanabutsome
may be lostin the seaand struggle togo to the otherside.I usedtobe veryscaredof ghosts
whenI waslittle butonce I know theyare justlike everyoneof usbutlessfortunate,Idon’tfeel
like Ishouldbe afraidof them.
6. Have u ever experience any unexplained phenomenon?
PersonallyIhave neverexperiencedghostsorspirits.
7. Whatare the differencesbetween yourreligion and otherreligions?
I can’t say thatBuddhismisthe best religion;Ibelieve thatall religionsteachpeopletodogood
to others.InBuddhism,there isnogodor divine figure butjustthe Buddhawhowasonce a
normal humanbeing.Thismakesthe followersbelievethat everyone of themwill be able to
reach nirvanaandbe enlightened. Ourgoal inlife isnotto goto heavenbutrather to notexist
and neverwill be bornagain.
8. Have you everbeen to a Buddhismceremony?Can you describethe experience?
I’ve beentoweddings,funeralsandhouse blessingceremonies.Houseblessingceremonyis
probablya unique Buddhisttradition.Onthisdaywe invite monkstocome toour house and
give blessing,usuallydone fornew houses.Lateronwe give foodandmoneyto the monks.This
ceremonyisdone tocaste awaybad spiritsbygivingthemgoodkarmaso that theywouldleave
the familyorhelpprotectthem.I dobelieve thatspiritsexisteverywhere;eveninthishouse
that we’re livinginandthey helpprotectandlookafterus.