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Home » Reader question » Reader question: Tamboen, from the heart or is it for the eye?
Reader question: Tamboen, from the heart or is it for the eye?
Dear readers,
Most of us know it. Doing good, giving food/money in the temple etc. But does that come from the heart or is it for the eyes of the church (as my late mother used to say)?
I collect plastic and cans for an old man in our neighborhood, but still regularly have to take milk bottles or water bottles and cans out of the garbage can. They then look at me as if they see water burning. I collect food scraps etc for the neighbor who has pigs. Same story. I collect cardboard for the neighbors who have it a lot less than we do. Same story again.
Then I wonder if they wave the notes again at the temple, who are you doing that for?
Are there more people who experience this, or am I the only one?
Regards,
Erwin
This is 99% in front of the church.
When Thais get an envelope from some temple, they don't dare to do anything but put something in it, afraid to be looked at as new.
This is also the case if an acquaintance tries to sell something, the friends will not easily say no thank you, it seems as if they are ashamed of it.
On the other hand, they are also very happy to show off when they make a donation as many people as possible should see that, especially if it concerns a large amount.
In my opinion that has much more to do with 'Face' than with Tambun.
Just like yesterday I saw a picture of a bulging garbage can at a temple full of donated food from the monks' begging rounds that they picked up in the morning.
Glad I'm not the only one who thinks this way.
Almost identical situation at our house.
It's like the collection bag from the church.
Buy off sins.
In addition, Thais believe in reincarnation, you never know how you will come back.
Those people who perform their tambo in front of the temple, or other people will be there, only 99% I personally think is very exaggerated. Moreover, if someone is so certain, I wonder where he/she gets this certainty from, because at most it is a conjecture, which is strongly influenced by his/her own thinking or behavior. Someone who hardly believes anything himself, often cannot imagine that there are other people, and will continue to doubt the behavior of these people. In many other cultures, including Thai, you will find people who are much stronger in their faith than we know from Western culture. Why this is the case is another story, and will certainly also have to do with the upbringing or the education received, but to doubt the intension time of a belief or the actions associated with it, and say that this is for 99 % happened in front of the temple and the fellow man, I personally think it's a very bold opinion. In Dutch I spontaneously remember the saying of "How the innkeeper himself is, that's how he trusts his guests".
Personally I experience that completely differently, Tamboon is in fact only done for itself, the more you do good in the current life, the better you will come back in a new life.
Nothing more, nothing less, but as a partner with a Thai for more than 10 years, I may be wrong, but I can't imagine anything other than the above.
Reminds me of my grandparents, born around 1880. Very God-fearing and very Catholic, of course. My parents were also religious, but fortunately much less so. Away with all that faith. When you see how many religions there are in the world, approximately 190- I start to think. Did God create man or did people create God? Every religion started as a sect, I think - and with enough followers it later became a religion. I believe in the people around me - that's all.
Like so many, there are those who really give from their hearts, but then I think those are the poorer people. And there is also a bit of superstition, if they do good they will get back in the next life. The richer heads mi their sin or give it to gain. Just look at what is happening now at that great temple in Bangkok. It has nothing to do with religion or anything. A number of people have benefited from this and those who just got it wrong have brought the practices out. MP Rutte would say: "the bottom stone up", but this is being investigated to the bottom. 🙂 🙂
I also think that the majority of “believers” in Thailand, and also in my homeland (the Netherlands), mainly practice their faith on stage. I don't think they know what their faith is really about. If anyone knows of a region/country where this is not the case, I would like to hear about it.
Faith, in my opinion, should be a private relationship between a person and his worshiped one, aimed at spiritual perfection. Other people's opinions shouldn't matter. But yes, people are social animals.
In TH I often see in the context of ทำบุญ (thamboen) that someone's generosity should be seen by as many people as possible.
In NL the saying applies: “You believe in the church.” I think this says enough about the (absence of a) relationship between faith and daily life.