Misa Yamada interviewed her mother about her Buddhist beliefs and practices for a school assignment on religion and animism. She learned that her mother strictly follows Buddha's original teachings and does not believe in animism or amulets. Her mother believes in karma and accepting what happens as having a purpose according to Buddha's sayings. While her mother used to visit astrologers due to its role in Thai culture, she now focuses on living in the present as the teachings say. The interview went smoothly and gave Misa new perspectives on her mother's Buddhist faith and animism in Thai culture.

1. Misa Yamada
March 26, 2011
TSEA, P. 1
TSEA Interview Reflection
Intended for the interview on religion and animist beliefs, I chose my
mother for many apparent reasons. Although my mother is not a nun or lives in a
temple, she extremely believes in Buddhism and strictly performs Buddhist
practices. Throughout the interview with my mother, I have learnt a lot about the
teachings of Buddha and Buddhist beliefs.
To conclude my mother’s beliefs, clearly illustrates how her beliefs are
rigorous to only Buddha’s teachings. Originally in Buddha’s teachings, animist
beliefs and amulets are not existent. In which, my mother follows to believe in
only Buddha’s teachings is to accept karma; the actions that determine future
states and that everything happens with a purpose. Also in the originality of
Buddha’s teachings is to also respect those of any spirits, and as Buddha once
said “We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our
thoughts, we make the world“, and that “No one saves us but ourselves. No one
can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path.” In addition, before my
mother became a strict Buddhist, she has visited astrologers multiple of times as
astrology is a large part of culture and beliefs in Thailand, Buddha’s original
teachings is “Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the
mind on the present moment.”
Throughout the interview, it went by fairly fast and it was unproblematic.
It was easy to communicate and understand the interviewee’s (my mother)
prospect in the Buddhist religion and the many cultural beliefs in Thailand.
Overall, the interview was exceptionally appealing, as new ideas about animist

2. beliefs were exposed in a different light.