[55TRATTERENRY]

Dear Pear,

In our thai culture, "metta" is our highest value and ideal. I believe that it is higher than the questionable values of equality. "Metta" in Thai culture is not "taught" in schools. It is taught in life, through actions of those around us. We grow up encultured in metta and that is how we learn our values.

The cosmology of the Thai people is different from the West. We exist in a world where there is no clear distinction between the world of the seen(material) and the unseen(spirit). For that worldview, we are often mistaken for being superstitious. This world of interdependence which the Thai soul has nurtured through thousands of years sees power as symbolized in the concepts of "pradej" and "prakun". I apologize for not translating these two concepts and the word metta because the English concept of two opposing negative and positive forces is, quite frankly, a limiting term. "Pradej", while it can be enforcing, all powerful, putting fear in people, has both negative and positive qualities. "Prakun", our ultimate governing power is most beneficial yet has its own limiting aspects. Most of us want to cultivate "prakun", but many also choose to cultivat "pradej". "Pradej" is cultivated basically through metta, and other related values. Many also balance the two.

The reason why Thai culture is so fixed in trying to place people in an appropriate "rank" is due to this belief in the order of power. They want to know how to properly behave in respect to that power. As a child, he is naturally lower in ranking than an older person, and therefore "wai" an elder with a bowed head to show that polite respect. What has been most amazing for me was to discover that this order of power is not permanently fixed. It is fluid. With knowledge, with maturity, one can negotiate one's way upwards. Some people negotiate with connections or "sen". Others negotiate with the grosser, more material commodity of money. But we all can recognize a great, wise "senior" person when we meet him, and it has nothing at all to do with money. Look in your circle of associates, family, relatives, who is this person? He/She comes in many forms, many representations.

Without true understanding (please notice, not "truth"), many Thai people act out the social norm. They think, "I have more pradej or prakun than these others, therefore I deserve respect". Of course, they will be mistaken to be seen as looking down at others, or might even actually look down on others if they have a severely inflated ego. Please do not confuse this with class distinction. You might want to investigate how the word "class" is a feudal and marxist invention.

I think it is unfair to generalize that Thais look down on poorer people. If we truly thought that poor is not worthy of respect, why do we revere our monks who have no attachment to money? Why do we highly respect our poorly paid teachers? Why do we respect and make a hero out of a person like Bangkok ex-governor Chamlong Srimuang? Or renown activist in support of the slum people, Kru Duangprateep? I ask you to look upon the example of our king, is he a rich man with abundant bank assets? Are those assets truly his or belonging to the Thai people? Read the story of his father and mother. Did you know that his mother was an adopted orphan? Why did millions of Thais mourn her death in length when she died? Do you really think it was just because she was the King's mother?

I leave you these thoughts, and look forward to reading more of your posts. Let me reassure you, there is no offense taken. We all "endoo" and respect our young who wish to understand more.