A Typical Field Scene During Rice-planting Season in Isan (Northeast Thailand)

Glutinous or sticky rice, being the primary "meat and potatoes" staple for all Isan people of rural Northeastern Thailand, is served at each and every meal. (This is true across the Mekong River in neighboring Laos as well.). Rice planting, Isan style, is tedious and back-breaking work. Each rice plant is transplanted by hand by bending over and forcing the roots of the tender young rice plant down into the soft warm mud, one at a time. Usually relatives and extended families band together to help with each other's fields until everyone's rice paddies are planted. Planting and harvest time in Isan are similar in that they are important socio-cultural events, central to village life, where young people can meet and court as families and friends unite around an indispensable, life-sustaining commodity: glutinous rice, their " staple of life."

"THE PROJECT'S CHALLENGES"
BUDDHISM:
THAILAND'S STATE-ORDAINED SOCIO-CULTURAL RELIGIOUS SYSTEM

Therevda Buddhism is a metaphysical philosophy without any concept of a Creator-God, or a Supreme Being to whom one is ultimately accountable. Based on human effort and good works, Buddhism is the state-ordained religious system of the land. Spiced with mixture of Brahmanism and superstitious folk beliefs, the total package forms a powerful socio-cultural identification. The general thinking is: to be Thai is to be Buddhist (94%). Biblical Christianity (still below 1%)entered the Kingdom of Thailand over 175 years ago with Adroniram Judson, but is not readily understood or widely embraced, even to this day.

Pictured (above left) in their bright saffron robes, young Thai-Isan boys between the age of 8 to 19 have entered the monkhood as neens, or novice apprentices. When they reach the age of 20, they can be ordained as adult monks, as the monk below has done. Novices must adhere to a behavioral code of 10 prohibitive precepts, while adult monks must observe a regimen of 227 precepts. These precepts are memorized by rote in Pali, an ancient language sacred to Thai Buddhism. 

CONCLUSION: As one attains to these higher states of self-enlightenment of mind and consciousness, the illusory nature of one's transitory surroundings becomes clearly perceived, both intuitively and through one's own efforts, directed by the knowledge of the Four Noble Truths. Consequently, the true state of self-reality unfolds and personal enlightenment is reached, the rite of passage into Nirvana's state of blissful perfection. This is all attained by one's own bootstrapefforts according to the oft-repeated Buddhist adage, "Self is one's own source of refuge (or salvation)."

Nirvana (or Ni-pah-na), is not a metaphysical or spiritual place of refuge for the soul, but a state where one's person, spirit or soul ceases to exist as an entity. This is said to be attainable after passage through a series of reincarnation cycles which provide the seeker with repeated opportunities to shed all manner of personal faults and selfish desires. This self cleansing and personal improvement is mandatory before being able to attain entrance into the cosmic pool known as Nirvana. 

Thus, the sacred duty of ever Thai Buddhist Monk, by definition, is to: keep the two-hundred twenty-eight mandatory rules all monks are required to observe (as opposed to only five and/or eight for the laity); study the Buddhist writings; recite the Buddhist precepts in Pali daily -- for themselves and the laity to hear; offer chants of blessing at weddings, funerals and other auspicious occasions, like new house warmings or when someone opens a new place of business; offer spiritual wisdom and advice (and often hot tips for buying lottery numbers); help collect funds for Buddhist charities, i.e., usually to build or improve temple facilities; receive alms from "the faithful," who are seeking to build their own merit; groom and maintain the temple grounds; and sit in meditation, reciting their personal mantra. 

This is "the path" Thai Buddhists must trod as they seek to build their own stockpile of merit to achieve enlightenment unto Nirvana. This is done after the teachings and example of their highly-revered Lord Buddha who has gone before them to . . . Nirvana(?). 

"MISC. PROJECT DETAILS"

Isan Region of Northeast Thailand, and Adjacent Area

Situated in mainland Southeast Asia, Thailand occupies nearly 200,000 sq. miles (518,000 sq. k.m.) in area land mass or nearly 3/4 the area of Texas. Thailand stretches approximately 985 miles (1,585 k.m.) from north-to-south and approximately 510 miles (821 k.m.) from east-to-west.

Note the location of Thailand's Isan Region (highlighted here in VIOLET), and its surrounding vicinity and proximity to the Mekong River and Laos. The Isan Region (another term for Northeast Thailand) is divided into 19 provinces and comprises approximately 1/3 of Thailand's total land mass and population. 

The pragmatic Thais often describe their country as being in the shape of an elephant's head: the Northeastern or 'Isan' region is likened unto the elephant's left ear; the mountainous Northern region is the right ear; the Central plains region is the head; the Southern region (Malay Peninsula) is the trunk; while the Gulf of Siam near Bangkok is elephant's mouth.

Ron with Pastor PreChaa, Former Translation Assistant

A recent photograph of Ron Myers (cross-cultural missionary and Bible translator) with Pastor Prechaa (a faithful believer and former translation assistant). 

Pastor Prechaa, of Phu Thai tribal ethnicity, presently lives in Mukdahan Province, Northeast Thailand, in the general area where he was born and raised. There, he evangelizes and helps oversee a small local church that meets in their home. Prechaa also sells food stuffs in the local open-air market to help support himself and his family.