Tulkanya Lerdsurat is a 50-year-old Thai business manager who was interviewed about her animist beliefs. She practices Buddhism by visiting the local wat and making offerings to monks. She has spirit houses at her home and workplace to keep away bad spirits, and visits them monthly or for holidays to make offerings. She wears a lucky charm necklace instead of an amulet. She believes in ghosts and knows someone who had a frightening experience with one. She has visited astrologers and monks to perform ceremonies ridding homes of bad spirits.

1. Interview on Animist Beliefs in Thailand<br />Name of person interviewed: Tulkanya Lerdsurat Nickname:Tuk<br />Occupation: Business manager Age: 50<br />Relationship to the interviewer: Friends Mother<br />Language in which interview was conducted: Thai/Englsih<br />Date of interview: October 12, 2010 Place of interview: Jumps house<br />Sample Questions: Note, if the person gives a vague answer, then ask a follow up question in order to get more information.<br />Are you a Buddhist? What are some things you do to practice your religion?<br />Yes I am Buddhist, I go to the wat to pay respect to the monks and some mornings I go to give my offerings to the monks.<br />Is there a spirit house at your home? Why? (Why not?)<br />There is a spirit home at my house in order to keep the bad spirits away from the house.<br />How often do you visit it? What do you do there? (Does someone else visit it?)<br />I usually visit once a month to give my offering but I also go there on special occasions such as birthdays or important Thai holidays that are related to Buddhism.<br />Is there a spirit house at your place of work? Why? (Why not?)<br />Yes, there is a spirit house at my work place, I put it there for the same reason as for the house.<br />How often do you visit it? What do you do there? (What do others do there?)<br />I visit the spirit house at my work place almost every day of the week to get rid of bad luck and in order for me to do to better at making money.<br />Do you wear an amulet? Why? (Why not?)<br />I used to wear an amulet, not anymore because an astrologer gave me a lucky charm necklace to wear instead. I wear amulets when I go on long distance trips away form home as protection.<br />Have you ever had an experience with a ghost? What happened?<br />No I have not had an experience with a ghost.<br />Do you know anyone else who has had an experience with a ghost? What happened? <br />Yes I know someone else who has had an experience with a ghost. She said the ghost kept on whispering into her ears at night saying her name and when she woke up she saw a white pale face in front of her.<br />Have you ever been to an astrologer? What advice did you ask for? What did he tell you?<br />Yes, I have been to an astrologer. I asked him about the future of my children, he said my daughter wont be with me and she will be very far away but the son would always be by my side.<br />Have you ever been to a ceremony to rid a house of bad spirits? If so, please<br />describe the ceremony.<br />Yes I have been to the ceremony to get rid of bad spirits. It was at my house we do it every year once it has been a year of living in our house. The monks would come to our house and say prayers to get rid of any bad spirits that may bring bad luck to the people in the house.<br />Have you ever been to a “bai sri” (bai see) ceremony? If so, please describe it. What is the purpose of the ceremony?<br />No I have never been there. But from what I heard when you are very sick you go to a bai sri ceremony in order to bring back good luck.<br />Do you have a tattoo? Do you know anyone who has a tattoo? Why did you (or the person you know) get one?<br />No I don’t have a tattoo and I don’t know anyone who has a tattoo<br />Possible follow up questions<br />Why? Why not?<br />What about your parents? relatives? friends?<br />Can you give a specific example?<br />Can you explain a bit more what you mean?<br />Can you describe a bit more what it was like? / what you do/ what you did?<br />Thai Vocabulary<br />Spirit house: San Jao<br />Amulet: <br />Ghost: phee (rising tone)<br />Astrologer: maw doo<br />Ceremony: phithee<br />Ceremony to rid a house of bad spirits: phithee lai phee<br />Tattoo: sak<br />