Monday, 17 October.
misunderstood by Westerners. The fact that the Crown Prince is requesting a one-year's delay to accept the coronation could indeed have a deeper meaning. Since HM the Prince was a bit of an alien in the royal public scenes, delaying the moment may also be a proper way to act in a Thai perspective. In the Buddhist religion, there is a place for merit-making. Showing him today honoring his father serves the purpose. One full year of mourning may sound incredibly long for outsiders. But in the East, time does not hold the same value as in the West. The months ahead could be favorably used by the Crown Prince to get more acquainted with Thai people and consequently be progressively accepted. It sounds a smoother approach rather than brutally accepting to become the new King. There is no doubt this is an adequate behavior in a Thai perspective knowing also that for Buddhists merit-making is an important part of their religious beliefs. As weird as it might be, it only shows a difference in behavior. Call it a cultural shock, if you will. Keep in mind that from a Buddhist perspective the past is the past, we do not know what the future will be, so only the present is important. For the time being, Thailand must move on.
Five days after King Bhumibol passed away, it seems that after a period of shock, Thailand braces up in its long mourning period.
Monday morning came with no sign of disruption. The baht remained stable and by judging the daily life in the streets of Bangkok, the Thais carried on their usual activities simply revealing the ongoing sadness in the way they are dressed. Public sites like banks, shopping malls or condo lounges have started to install visible signs of the royal mourning with black and white ribbons, the two colors of funerals. People are signing the wishing books as it is customary in the country to celebrate royal occasions like anniversaries or birthdays. The only major difference is the evident sadness. This is a weird episode in a country normally accustomed to celebrating joyful moments.
Reading today's local papers was a confirmation of the current trend. The country moves on to a more daily routine. Some papers like The Bangkok Post keep on praising the King's life in retrospect. Yet, there were colored pictures of the Crown Prince leading a royal ceremony at the Grand Palace, where the body of the King is resting peacefully. The King & Queen of Bhutan came to the capital to honor the King of Thailand, a symbolic gesture perceived favorably by the Thai people. Japan announced that it was ready to help financially any of its economic involvement in the country.Time and reality reveal once more how the Thais are able to adapt to new situations in keeping with their Buddhist principles.
And this brings forward today's reflection on the current state of the country. It may well be
Thailand has had a long history of cultural continuity and there is no sign at the moment that this will ever change. Perhaps, it is no accident that two other similar Asian countries stand close to the Thais, namely Bhutan & Japan.
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| Royal effigy at the Bangkok Stock Exchange |
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| Bangkok Bang outlet at a mall |
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