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Kandungan
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PANDANGAN PHRA PHIAN SACCAVARO, WAT PHIKULTHONG, KELANTAN Charen
Phorn all Khon Thai in the Dhamma, I
have read some articles through Internet Website regarding the dispute that has
been arising among Khon Thai in Malaysia. As one of Khon Thai,
I felt very sorry to hear that there is an altercation among Khon Thai
ourselves. After reading some of your opinions, I could say that you are arguing
on a trivial manner, which is not conducive to peace, prosperity and unity of
our Thai people. I hope all of you don’t mind if I express my frank opinion
related to this matter. First of all, I would like to inform everybody that all
of my notions are according to Buddhist attitude. As
learned people, everybody should think in a positive way. Now we are quarrelling
about the status of our race whether Thai or Siam. According to my view
the etymological definition is not so important. Whatever we want to call we can
do so. The most important is how far has our people developed. Do you think by
getting an answer on a useless question will induce our people to peace,
happiness, prosperity and unity? In Aranna Sutta of Majjhima Nikaya of Sutta
Pitaka, the Buddha advised His disciples not to attach to the etymological
definition. Our aims are the same, to make our nation developed, successful and
have equal opportunities comparing to other nations. I'm fully hoped that
whatever Persatuan which using the name of Thai or Siam must be based on
the Dhamma. To
make a better understanding, I would like to give some similes. Imagine an
Englishman, a Thaiman, a Malayman, a Chinese Hokkienman and a Sri Lankanman all
looking at sugar. The Englishman says, that’s sugar. The Thaiman
answers, No it’s not. It’s Nam Tarn. The Malayman comments, You’re
both wrong. It’s gula. The Chinese Hokkien laughs at the others and
says, What fools you are. It’s Pek Theung. And the Sri Lankanman
replies, neither of you are correct. It’s Sini. The Englishman gets an
Oxford dictionary and shows it to the others saying? I can prove that it is
sugar. My dictionary says so. Then your dictionary is wrong, says the
Thaiman, because my dictionary clearly says it is Nam Tarn. The Chinese
scoffs at them My dictionary is thousands of years older than yours, so my
dictionary must be right. And besides, more people speak Chinese than any other
language, so it must be Pek Theung. While they are squabbling and arguing
with each other? a Buddhist monk approaches, takes the sugar preparing a drink,
mixing that sugar and drinks. After he has drunk, he says to the others, Whether
you call it Sugar, Nam Tarn, Pek Theung, Gula or Sini, the purpose of the sugar
is to be used. Stop arguing and drink, stop quarrelling and refresh your thirst.
Although different type of calling the sugar, it has only one taste, that is
sweetness. The quality of it cannot merely change by the name. Even so, the
meaning of Thai or Siam. It has different pronunciations but only the
same meaning. If
our people can live together in peaceful manner, prosperous and equivalent to
the standard of other nations, it doesn’t matter what we call Thai or Siam.
This is the Buddhist attitude to make a clear understanding towards the
misconception in our brains. Buddhism accepts only the Truth and there are two
kinds of Truths; Sammuti Sacca (Conventional Truth) and Paramattha Sacca
(Ultimate Truth) but the Buddha appreciated only the Ultimate Truth. So please
think in a positive and progressive ways. As far as I know, our Thai people
especially the leaders are full of envy, jealousy, malice and so on, which are
leading to the destruction of Khon Thai ourselves. You know that all of
these feelings are the hindrances of peace, development, happiness, prosperity
and unity in our society. I
would like to give another similes. If you learn Buddhism thoroughly, the names
of the Buddha according to Pali language were of various kinds. Before His
Enlightenment, He was known as Siddhattha Gotama but after His Enlightenment He
was known of various names such as Buddha, Bahgavantu, Dasabala; Sugata; Muninda;
Sabbannu, Sakyasiha, Sakyamuni, Sattha, Tathagata, Naga and many more to be
mentioned here. Whatever people might call Him, His qualities of Phra
Karunadhiguna (Compassionate) Phra Borisuddhiguna (Pureness) and Phra
Panyadhiguna (Wisdom) had never disappeared from Him. Although people called Him
of various names, He never said that they were wrong. That was the thinking way
of the Noble Person who had completely eradicated Craving (Raga), Hatred (Dosa)
and Ignorance (Moha). For ignorant people like us, only two different names were
used but make thousands confusions to the massive people all over the world.
Presently almost all of the Buddhist scholars use only the word Buddha because
it is well known to everybody. We can hardly see the other names except the word
Buddha in many discourses, which had been translated from Pali to English or any
other languages. Even our country, Malaysia previously was known as Tanah Melayu
and Malaya but later was changed to the present name. If we ask whether the
words Tanah Melayu and Malaya are correct or not; they are both correct in the
past 40 years ago but another name has been using in the present. So, what is
the use of using a word which is not acquainted? I
personally think that we had better used the word Thai because it is recognized
globally. When I have been abroad, I realize that almost no one knows Siam but
if I said Nationality Malaysian and Race Thai most of people know and it
is also recognizable. If we refer to a dictionary, the word Thai is
derived from Siam. In ancient time Thailand and Thai people were known as
Siam but later it was changed. Even, I inquired some of my colleagues living in
Shan Hill Tracts, a part of Myanmar who are Nationality Myanmar and Race
Thai. They were formerly identified as Siam but Burmese pronounced as Shan
and when it was changed to Thai they also followed. So, we had better
used the word Thai which is accepted worldwide. Whenever I fill in any
important documents I declared myself as Thai although in my birth
certificate is stated as Siam. I
do not compel anybody to follow or believe me. It depends on individuality. Even
the Buddha advised to Kalama people in Kalama Sutta of Anguttara Nikaya of Sutta
Pitaka that we should not blindly believe but rather question, examine, inquire
and rely on our own experience. He said thus; Do not go by revelation or
tradition, do not go by rumour, or the sacred scriptures, do not go by hearsay
or mere logic, do not go by bias towards a notion or by another person’s
seeming ability and do not go by the idea. He is our teacher. But when you
yourselves know that a thing is good, that it is not blamable, that is praised
by the wise and when practised and observed that is leads to happiness, then
follow that things. So,
for this crucial time, please forget about the useless matter. Work together
with diligence, unselfishness and push Khon Thai to the highest standard
globally. In
my conclusion, I would like to advise all of our Khon Thai to lead our
daily life according to the Noble Eight-Fold Path, which was expounded by the
Buddha. The Buddha admonished His disciples thus; Sabbapapassa akaranam,
kusalassa upasampada, sacitta pariyodapanam, Etam Buddhana Sasanam. (Not to do
any evil, to cultivate good and to purify one’s mind. This is the teaching of
the Buddhas. If
any mistakes are found in this small article, they’re only my fault. I hope
all of our beloved Thai people will get some ideas and benefits from this
article Namo
Buddhaya (Charen Thai, Charen Thai, Charen Thai Sadhu!
Sadhu! Sadhu! May
all dreams of KhonThai in Malaysia become true! (Idam
no yatinam hotu sukhita hotu ya tayo) Prepared
by; Phra Phian Saccavaro, Wat Phikulthong Vararam, Kelantan, E-mail: [email protected] |
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on 19-12-02
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