From: ssg9328@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Samart Srijumnong)
Subject: Re: Thai Buddhist sayings
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Sat, 26 Dec 1992 06:52:55 GMT



There are some expressions Thais say which relate to Buddhist legendary
stories.  The followings are some of them.


>>>>>>Kin-Yang-Kap'Chuu-ChOk" (Eat like Chuu-ChOk")

	Chuu-ChOk" is a character in Phra"Wed"San+Don- story. He relied
solely on beggings and accumulated what he got in term of gold. He even
had enough money to lend to those who needed one of whom was a man who
had a daughter by the name Amitada. The man failed to pay the debt which
resulted in loosing the daughter to Chuu-ChOk. Amitada was a good wife 
from the beginning but she was teased by her neighboring women who were
up in arm after their husbands compared Amitada's housewifeship with
theirs. Amitada was so frustrated and down so she demanded that Chuu-ChOk
find some servants for her. Chuu-ChOk sought a way to satisfy her and
found the possibility. It was Phra"Wed"San+Don- whose two children -
Kan-Haa+ and Chaa-Lee- were the target of Chuu-ChOk's greed. He convinced
PWS to give away the two children and he did. Later PWS's relatives in
the Court tricked Chuu-ChOk" by providing him with large of amount
of good food to eat and Chuu-ChOk" did not deny. He finally died due to
the explosion of his stomach. 

	Chuu-ChOk is often used as a metaphore for and greedy person who
never stop eating. 


>>>>>Soon+Nang+SU+Sang+Ka"Raad" (To teach the Supreme Patriarch to read and
write)

	In those days, literacy was limited only to those who were in
the Court or in the Wat. The Supreme Patriach who was the highest ranked
member in the monk order. He was promoted to such rank by the virtue of
his competence and experience which often included ability to read and
write. To teach him to do the things he is already good at is an act of
ignorance. Another similar saying is to teach a crocodile to swim (Soon+Jo-
Ra"Ke"Hai"Wai"Naam^).  


>>>>>Chua"Chaang"Chee- Dee-Chaang"SOng+ (If the monks or nuns are to 
let themselves bad, let them be)

	This expression is probably similar to what we often hear in 
Western societies-- MYOB...Mind your own business!


>>>>>MU-ThU+Saak' Paak'ThU+Sin+ (The hand holds a pestle while the mouth utters
Buddhist percepts)

	Saak' could be used as weapon. Those who believe in Buddhism 
should not use violent method in solving conflict. Otherwise he would be
deceiving others. Another expression which has similar implication is
Paak'Waa" Taa-Ka'Yip' (The mouth criticizes while the eyes wink.. or
Practice what you preach).

	
>>>>>Wan-Phra"Mai"Daai"Mii-HOn+Diew- (Buddhist holy days do not take place
only once...or A dog has his day)

	Wan-Phra" is historically the day Buddhist made merit. This expression
is an attempt to cite the fact that there are many Wan-Phra" days where one
can find opportunity to do good things. It could also be used to cheer 
somone, after have been down from some failure, up. 


>>>>>Pit'Thong-Lang+Phra" (To apply gold leaf to the back of a Buddhist
image)

	This saying is used to mean an act of someone who do not follow
what the majority do, especially for the purpose of self-advertising. The
deed is done without being noticed. This could well be used to praise 
those who work behind the scene without whom the work could not be 
successful. Such action of people who work on the back stage is characterized
as similar to that of the one who stick gold leaf on the back of a Buddha
image. 


There might be more but these are what I could think of at the moment. Some
of the wordings used in my writing above are taken from Duagnthi Somnapan
Surintatip, ON THAI PROVERBS AND SAYINGS, Bangkok: National Identity
Board, Thailand, 1985.