Thailand. Pearl of the East. Land of dirt-cheap massages and as a tropical dessert: spirit houses. Tiny temples full of frills serve as Airbnb for displaced spirits. Every spirit a roof over its head. Social housing for the supernatural. Cosy, isn't it?
A ghost house like this works like a political promise machine: you put it up, kindly but firmly tell the original occupant to get lost, and in return offer a dollhouse full of plastic guards, flashing Christmas lights, and a nice glass of red Fanta. Because yes, red soda turns out to be the ultimate spiritual lubricant for angry evictions in Thailand. After all, nobody wants a malicious ghost occupant sabotaging your IKEA bed in the middle of the night because he feels shortchanged by the lack of carbonated sugary drink.
Housing the spirit is not cheap. Spiritual inflation: one banana a day is no longer enough. Nowadays they demand coconut water, matcha latte or organic quinoa. A fresh investment every day in flowers, incense and the sugary soft drinks of sugar-comatose Western multinationals. Spirits are the new influencers: the more followers, the bigger their egos and the more Fanta they demand. If you are lucky, your own supernatural housemate will bring you prosperity. If not? Too bad, you should have poured more red Fanta. That is how the Thai market works: even spirits have become capitalists. The more investment, the greater the return in happiness, health and Instagram-worthy blessings.
The spirit house is the perfect fusion of old folk beliefs and modern Buddhism. The latter doesn't even believe in ghosts, strictly speaking, but hey, why make things difficult when you can make them easy? Just hire a monk for a good blessing and the problem will solve itself. Spirituality on demand just as fast as your Pad Thai at the local street food stall.
And what do you do as an unsuspecting tourist in this surreal landscape full of spiritual mini-villas? Simple: take a picture. Nothing is as respectful as taking a selfie with an iPhone camera next to a holy altar with rice offering and rotting fruit. Anything for the likes. Even your soul. Hashtag #blessed of course. Above all, don't touch anything of course. One fingerprint and you have the ghost version of the Thai tax authorities on your tail: eternal misery guaranteed.
But let's not be too cynical. Maybe we in the sober West do need such a ghost house. Not for ghosts of course, but for our own hidden fears, performance pressure, mortgage stress and the daily madness that we so diligently hide away. A small house around it, a candle and a double espresso every morning as an offering to our internal ghosts. Three minutes of mindfulness via YouTube and who knows, it might bring enlightenment. And if it doesn't work? Then we'll just drink the Fanta ourselves.
About this blogger
- The Expat (66) has been living in Pattaya for 17 years and enjoys every day in the land of milk and honey! Previously employed in road and hydraulic engineering, but fled the capricious weather in the Netherlands. Lives here with his Thai girlfriend and two dogs just outside Pattaya, a 3-minute walk from the beach. Hobbies: enjoying life, going out, sports and philosophizing with friends about football, Formula 1 and politics.
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Thai people live in an animistic world. Just look around their Buddhist temples. A characteristic of animism is that the world around you is animated. Spirits were around. That is why Thai people go to such great lengths to ward off the influence of those spirits. Because there are many good spirits, but even more bad ones. It is best to appease them. Constantly. Such a spirit house is an example of this.
https://thethaiger.com/news/national/why-thai-locals-make-homes-for-the-spirits
Up to and including today, children are taught to behave in an appropriate manner, especially in order not to get in the way of the ผี (phi). The consequences are suppressing emotions and avoiding conflicts. That is why later contacts are kept superficial. Sabaai, sanoek, maipenraai, kreng-jai: keeping a jai-yen.
If you want to understand the Thai people, you must abandon disdain.
There are indeed more ghosts than people in Thailand. It is constantly haunted..Now it is also haunted in the Netherlands. I suspect that a ghost or several even traveled with me in my suitcase. They are easily overlooked. Well, at Bol such a house is available for 53 euros. Problem: garden on the south. The house has to be on the north side, right? That won't work. Does anyone know a solution?
it makes sense that there are more ghosts than people.
Thais believe in reincarnation.
So where do you put everyone? Obviously not everyone comes back as a human being but still.
Spirits are flexible and can handle change well.
We also have one in our garden.
After some haste and a conversation with Buddha, he has now been moved to the other side of the garden.
This is how you solve problems and face the future with a smile.