Five Year Old Blind Genius Pianist (from youtube) #2

Many people cried after watching this clip. Very touching!!

Five Year Old Blind Genius Pianist (from youtube)

Khun Kanokporn sent me the link to this clip on youtube. In my opinion, it’s very touching. Just want to share. Thanks a lot Khun Kanokporn.

 

Happy Thai New Year!!!

Wishing all of you a very happy Thai New Year!!

Vipasana Meditation

 My friend asked me about how to meditate. I’m just a beginner. Then I think I should give her a good paper of meditation. I found a concise one from the internet. It’s “Practical Vipassana Meditational Exercises” By Ven. Mahasi Sayadaw. He said:

“practice of Vipassana or Insight Meditation is the effort made by the meditation to understand correctly the nature of the psycho-physical phenomena taking place in his own body. Physical phenomena are the things or objects which one clearly perceives around one. The whole of one’s body that one clearly perceives constitutes a group of material qualities [rupa]. Psychical or mental phenomena are acts of consciousness or awareness [nama]. These [nama-rupas] are clearly perceived to be happening whenever they are seen, heard smelt, tasted, touched, or thought of. We must make ourselves aware of them by observing, hearing, hearing, “smelling, smelling, tasting, tasting” touching, touching, ‘or thinking, thinking’.

Every time one sees, hears, smells, tastes, touches, or thinks, one should make a note of the fact. But in the beginning of one’s practice one cannot make a note of every one of these happenings. One should, therefore, begin with noting those happening which are conspicuous and easily perceivable. …”

To read more, please click here.

Dharma at Dawn

 

One of the books I bought recently is Dharma at Dawn by W.Vajiramedhi.

From the Forward “…Before setting down to work, if you can begin the day with a good book, so you may adapt its beautifully written sayings for your daily tasks; your day is bound to begin in good stead.”

“Dharma at Dawn” is such good book.

One of the thought pieces in this book I like is :

Good times or bad times may depend on

Our attitude in facing situation.

If we keep our cool and remain perceptive

Woe may become joy,

Problems may turn into wisdom,

And a crisis may become an opportunity.

I agree with the message from the back cover of this book…

“Begin every new day with Dharma at Dawn and you will experience a whole day of joy.”

Source of the photo: http://www.amarinpocketbook.com/writer_detail.asp?writer_id=624

Sandal Wood tree extracted to create Royal Urn

Assistant Secretary-General of the Bureau of the Royal household Sanchai Tiemtaveesin (สรรชัย เทียมทวีสิน) along with other related officials traveled to the Kuiburi (กุยบุรี) National Park to perform a ceremony to extract wood for the creation of the Royal Urn that will house the ashes of Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana.

The ceremony preceded the felling of three Sandal Wood trees and involved the lighting of incense and candles and the chanting of prayers.  Prachuap Khiri Khan Province Chief Chatchai Pinnguen (ฉัตรชัย ปิ่นเงิน) assumed the role of royal household Brahman and conducted prayers to appease the tree spirits.

The trees though will be taken from the park at a later date by the department of national parks and wildlife.  Prachuap Khiri Khan officials will plant three sandal wood trees in their places.

Source: The Public Relations Department

Sanam Luang to be closed for transfer of Royal Chariots and Funeral Pyre on February 1st

Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) Spokesman Tanom Onkatepol (ถนอม อ่อนเกตุพล) revealed that the BMA has received a letter from the Ministry of Culture’s Department of Fine Arts concerning the use of Sanam Luang to transport and assemble the Royal Chariots and Funeral Pyre to be used in the Royal Funeral Procession of Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana.

Director of the Department of Fine Arts Kriangkrai Sampachalit (เกรียงไกร สัมปัชชลิต) submitted the letter to the BMA requesting the use of Sanam Luang on February 1st onward until the completion of the tasks.  The main ceremonial section of the park will be closed off from the public but surrounding areas normally used for food vendors and parking will still be open.

Events and festivals will be deterred from taking place at Sanam Luang during the project.  The department stated that it would allow the BMA to rule whether certain events could achieve special permission to take place.

Source: The Public Relations Department

The Princess on Film

Today, the Nation published an article “The Princess on film”.
Buranee Rachjaibun, who directed one of the best documentaries about Princess Galyani currently being shown on TV, learned a great deal from the experience.

….”She was always very friendly. I vividly remember one occasion when she attended the classical ballet ‘Biarritz’ at the Thailand Cultural Centre.

“Space was very limited in the backstage area where her car was parked, and normally only the show’s director greets the Princess. But the whole cast was eager to see her and asked me if the Princess might talk to them. I wasn’t sure about it at all, but the Princess was very kind and shook hands with every performer, and even spoke to them in French beautifully. It was so impressive!”….

Thre are more impressive stories from Buranee’s memory. You can read full story at: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2008/01/17/lifestyle/lifestyle_30062442.php

Over 5 million baht donated in reverence for HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana

The Bureau of the Royal Household has disclosed that citizens have donated a combined sum exceeding 5 million baht in reverence to Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana.

The sum has been tallied from donations given to the bureau since January 2nd to 13th. The bureau stated that Her Royal Highness’ passing has prompted such generosity from citizens that the bureau has had to open an account which it has named the “Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana Fund”. The fund will be used to sponsor Her Royal Highness’ various royal projects.

The exact tally released by the bureau showed that 12 days of contributions have yielded 5,784,065.75 baht in donations.

Source: The Public Relations Department

Remembering A Much Loved Princess

Many people have tried to find Her Royal Highness the Princess Galyani Vadhana’s biography. And so do I. For English version, I prefer the one from the Siamese Collection.

“Her Royal Highness the Princess Galyani Vadhana was one of the hardest working member of the Royal Family. She normally went about her work quietly and without much fuss. Whatever she did, she did with her heart. She took for herself a work load that could be indescibable to some. She was head of over 60 organizations and she looked after each one herself, and with full knowledge and concentration.”

Read the full version here : http://www.soravij.com/galyani.html