2. Why do monks shave their heads?
1. Because the Buddha
cut his hair off to say
goodbye to the world
2. Because monks must
be celibate. Hair makes
him handsome, but he
cannot touch a
woman! This may be
difficult for him.
3. To overcome vanity.
3. Why do we have to make merit?
Many Buddhist’s believe we make merit so we can have good karma for the
next life.
But I think we should make merit to help others, not to help ourselves.
Some people think that making merit (giving to the sangha) is extortion.
4. Where is hell?
Hell is not a real place. I do not believe you can go
to hell after you die.
But if you make mistakes, your life now could
become hell.
5. Where will we go after we die?
YOU will not exist after you die.
But I believe a new consciousness
will arise somewhere in the
universe, and you will be that
consciousness. You could be any
kind of living thing, plant, animal or
even artificial intelligence. It does
not matter, all are equal.
6. Why is Buddhism in Thailand different
from Buddhism in Japan?
• Buddhism changes to fit the culture of every
place it becomes popular
• Japan has Mahayana and Thailand has
Theravada
7. Do you believe in ghosts?
I don’t believe there are
ghosts in reality.
But because they exist in
our heads, they exist in a
way.
If ghosts were real, why
would people see them so
rarely?
8. Why do we have to pray?
Who are we praying to?
Do we really have to
pray?
Praying is superstition
9. Why can’t monks leave the temple
during khao phansa?
People didn’t want the
monks to step on the
young rice plants
It also gives monks time
to meditate and study
11. Why don’t monks wear shoes?
Monks in some
places wear shoes
The vinaya pitaka
says that monks
should not use
luxurious things like
shoes
12. Why can’t a woman touch a monk?
Monks must not have
sexual pleasure
Touching a woman
may make them
sexually excited
If monks could touch
women they would
be distracted from
practice
13. Why don’t monks eat dinner?
1. So the monks don’t
burden the lay people
with more than one
meal every day.
2. So that they can learn to
deal with desire
3. For health reasons. It
makes you more healthy
Eating one meal a day can and energetic
cause constipation (supposedly)
4. It gives the monks more
Sometimes monks consume time for meditation
animal urine to help them go
to the bathroom
14. Why should we follow the 5 precepts?
If everyone
followed the
precepts, the
world would be a
better place.
There would be
less suffering.
utopia
15. Why do monks have so many rules?
They Vinaya pitaka has
227 rules for monks
Monks believed that a
disciplined life is the
way to enlightenment
16. Why don’t monks wear underwear?
• They don’t need it!
• A monks robe has three parts: an
inner(sabong), upper(ungsa) and outer robe
(jiworn)
17. Why are monks robes orange/yellow?
Turmeric dye
Monks used to use
jackfruit, rubber or
wood to dye robes.
Yellow is the color of
renunciation.
Now they use modern
dyes made of chemicals
The dye protects the
robe.
18. Why do people make temples?
People build temples
to make merit.
They think it is good
karma for the next
life.
I think any place can
be a temple if you
have jai yen
19. Why do we have Buddhist holidays?
• All cultures have holidays
• Holidays give people a chance to practice
Buddhism and have a good time
• They bring the community together
• They mark the passage of time
20. Why do some people become monks?
• Some become monks because they are
poor
• Some are really interested in Buddhism
• Some want to have a chance to study
21. Where is Buddhism from?
The Buddha was born in
Kapilavastu, Nepal.
He found enlightenment
in Bodh Gaya India
He gave his first
teachings at Deer Park in
Varanasi
He died in Kusinara
22. What is abhidhamma day?
• This is a Burmese holiday to celebrate Buddha
going to heaven to teach his mother the
abhidhamma
23. Why did Buddhism come to Thailand?
• We don’t know when Buddhism came to
Thailand. Maybe in the third century by Asoka,
Sona and Uttara.
24. What is on top of the Buddha’s head?
It is called an urna
It shows that the
Buddha is
enlightened
25. Does a Buddhist break the precept of
not killing when he eats meat?
Santi Asoke people say
yes, it is killing.
Most monks and people
think it is ok to eat meat if
you don’t kill the animals
yourself.
What do you think?
27. How many Buddhas are there?
• Mahayana Buddhism has over 10,000 Buddhas
• Theravada has 7 Buddhas
• Some people say there are more Buddha’s than
there are stars in the sky
• Maitreya is the Buddha of the future
28. Why aren’t we immortal?
• Everything has a beginning and end
• But I don’t think death is “the end”. It is a time
to change to a new thing.
• “Every chromosome has a telomere. Each time
a chromosome divides the telomere becomes
shorter”
29. Who told the history of the Buddha?
• Buddhaghosa wrote most of the
commentaries on the tipitaka for Theravada
Buddhism
31. Why are people greedy?
They have fear. They are afraid of losing everything and not having
enough to live
They want to have a “big face”
People are never satisfied.
32. How can we know that we’ll be human
in the next life?
• Some people say that you must make good
karma to be human in the next life
• I think it doesn’t depend on karma. I think it
depends on chance. A very small chance.
33. Why do we put our palms together
when we pray?
This is called anjali in
Buddhism
This is done in many
cultures and religions
It is to show respect, and
to calm the body and
mind
34. Do we have a soul mate?
It’s probably easier to find a
soulmate from your own
culture.
I think it is difficult to find a
soul mate because it’s so
hard to get people to really
open their heart
You will never find a soul
mate if you don’t trust I hope you find one
people
35. What is the meaning of life?
Money, power,
fun, love,
helping others,
success,
experiencing
everything?
It’s up to you.
36. Why must we learn about Buddhism?
The government of your country wants you to be a good
person
Buddhism is an important part of Thai culture
Did you know that in
the past, almost all
education was at
temples, with monks
as teachers?
37. Why does Buddhism have the name
Buddhism?
• Buddha means “the enlightened one”
• -ism means it’s a system of belief
• -ist means a person who believes it
47. Can monks travel by car?
The Vinaya pitaka says monks should not use
luxuries, but many vinaya rules are difficult to follow.
Monks cannot sit next to a woman in the car.
48. Can monks listen to music and sing?
• The seventh precept “Refrain from dancing,
singing, music, going to see entertainments…”
• The answer: No. But many do it.
49. What is a fast way to get
enlightenment?
• It depends on which kind of Buddhism you
practice, and on your definition of
enlightenment
50. Should monks shave their beard?
• Monks must always shave their head and
beard
52. What is real Buddhism?
• Any kind of Buddhism that makes the world
better is “real Buddhism”
• Anyone who says they know what “real
Buddhism” is is lying or wrong.
Buddhism
53. Do you think Santi Asoke people really
understand Buddhism?
• They have their own style of Buddhism
• There is no wrong way to practice Buddhism.
• But I like some styles of Buddhism more than
others.
54. Do you think we have enough
Buddhism in our life?
• You should take what you need from
Buddhism. No more.
• What is important in Buddhism?
Outer Buddhism (ceremonies,
praying, temples, statues), or inner
Buddhism? (love, generosity and a
calm heart)
55. What is the best religion?
• All religions have good and bad sides
• I believe Buddhism is the most open and free
religion. It is a “universal” religion
• The best religion is the one that is best for
your life
56. How many people really understand all
of Buddhism?
• No one understands all of Buddhism, even the
Buddha
What IS Buddhism? The teachings of the Buddha
2500 years ago? Everything that has been
added since then? Both?
The more you learn, the more you realize that
you know very little
57. Why did Santi Asoke walk away from
the Dhamma of the Buddha?
• What is the “dhamma of the Buddha?”
• The basics of Buddhism are mostly the same
in every country
• They have changed things about buddhism
that they don’t like
58. Why can’t Thai nuns be equal to
monks?
Women cannot ordain in Thailand
In most countries they can ordain.
The Thai sangha does not want
change.
