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 make merit?
Many Buddhist’s believe we make merit so we can have good karma for the
next life.
We should make merit to help others, not to help ourselves.
Making merit makes you look good in the community.
4. Where is hell?
Hell is not a real place. I do not believe you can go
to hell after you die.
We cannot prove whether or not heaven and hell
are real.
But if you make mistakes, your life now could
become hell.
5. Where will we go after we die?
YOU as a person will not exist after
you die.
But when you die, a new life will
start somewhere in the universe,
and you will be that. You could be
any kind of living thing, plant,
animal or even artificial intelligence.
Some people believe that there is
nothing after death.
Some people believe in heaven and
hell.
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.
• Japan and China are not very religious
anymore. Buddhism is still strong in Thailand.
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?
Some people think they
can talk to god, or get
good luck by praying.
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?
A long time ago, people
didn’t want the monks to
step on the young rice
plants
It also gives monks time
to meditate and study
10. Do you believe in god?
Yin yang of
daoism
Well, what
exactly is
god?
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
and energetic
(supposedly)
4. It gives the monks more
time for meditation
Eating one meal a day can
cause constipation
Sometimes monks consume
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.
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 need shelter.
• Some ordain because their
family wants them to.
• 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.
• Theravada
Buddhism came in
the 13th century.
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?
26. Do Buddhist’s believe in god?
Some people
believe that
Buddha had
godlike powers.
But in Buddhism,
there is no
creator god that is
powerful.
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?
• Many different people wrote about Buddha,
but Buddhaghosa wrote a lot of the tipitaka.
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.
• Buddhism says that being a human is the best
kind of life there is.
• 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
I hope you find one
You will never find a soul
mate if you don’t trust
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
39. Can monks kill an animal?
Monks must not kill an
animal.
A monk must not eat
meat that he knows
was killed for him.
But he can defend
himself if he is
attacked.
40. Why is there holy water in Buddhism?
• Holy water makes us pure.
• There is holy water in many religions.
• It is used for blessings.
41. Can good karma cancel out bad karma
from the past?
• Many people believe that it can.
• Some say that it cannot, but the good new
karma you make will be rewarded.
42. Why can’t we touch a monk’s bowl?
You might break it! A long time ago, bowls
were easy to break and difficult to make.
43. When do the monks pray?
• In many temples, the monks pray in the
morning, midday, near dinner time, and
nighttime.
44. Can monks use and handle money?
The Vinaya pitaka says that monks should not hold
money.
Many try not to.
But sometimes it is necessary to touch money.
45. Why can some people see ghosts, and
some people can’t?
Some people are crazy, or liars, or
cannot see well.
46. Do monks wash their robes?
Some monks wash
their robes
themselves.
The King of
Thailand washed
his own robes
when he was a
monk.
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
51. 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
52. 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.
53. Do you think we have enough
Buddhism in our life?
• You should take what you need from
Buddhism.
• What is important in Buddhism?
Outer Buddhism (ceremonies,
praying, temples, statues), or inner
Buddhism? (love, generosity and a
calm heart)
54. 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
55. Why can’t Thai nuns be equal to
monks?
Women cannot ordain in Thailand
In most countries they can ordain.
This is part of Thai culture.
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 do you want to teach Buddhism?
Because I think it is
interesting, and it is a
core subject at
Strisuksa.
59. Is the story of Buddhism fiction or a
true story?
Parts are true and parts are
fiction.
It is impossible to know what
really happened 2500 years ago.
Monks memorized the story of
the Buddha and passed it on.
60. Where do superstitions and magic
come from?
A solar eclipse.
When people don’t have enough knowledge, they make
stories to explain things.
Sometimes people used “magic” to control other people.
61. Why do monks chant in Pali?
• Pali is the ancient language of Buddhism.
• It is important in a religion to keep traditions.
62. Why do monks wear robes?
• To keep them warm and cover their body.
• Robes are easy to make compared to other
clothes.
63. Why does the world have religion?
• Religion helps explain the universe.
• Religion shows people how to be good.
• Religion brings people in a community
together.
• Religion gives people hope when they are
having difficult times.
64. How many past lives did the Buddha
have?
• The Buddha could remember thousands of past
lives.
• The Jataka tales tell stories of about 500 of those
lives.
65. Why is Buddhism one of the most
important religions in the world?
• It is number 4 in the world for number of
followers.
• It helps bring peace to the world.
66. How can meditation help us relieve
stress and help our health?
• When we meditate we relax, and stop having
unhealthy thoughts that hurt us.
• Stress hurts our nervous system.
• We will feel better and won’t have stress.
• We can live longer if we don’t have stress.
68. Why do monks meditate?
• They meditate to quiet their mind and lose
their belief in the self.
• Some monks meditate to reach Nirvana.
69. How did the Buddha know that he was
enlightened?
• Because his mind had no thoughts and was
very calm. He felt he was just a part of the
world, and not an individual person. He had
no desire.
70. Why did Buddha go to Kusinagara?
• Because it was where he wanted to teach the
Mahá-Sudassana Sutta;
• Because Subhadda would visit him there and,
after listening to his sermon, would become
an arahant.
• Because the brahman Doha would be there,
after the Buddha's death, to take care of his
body and spread his bones.
72. How tall was the Buddha?
• Some people say that Buddha was about 6
feet tall, or 183 centimeters.
73. Why do we take off our shoes to give
food to a monk or enter a temple?
It is a way to
show respect.
74. Can we really live without desire?
• I think desire is part of human nature. We
always want something more.
• We cannot win against desire. But we should
try to lessen it.
75. Why didn’t Buddha want to be king?
Buddha was tired of
the easy life in the
palace.
He wanted to leave
home to find the
truth and end
suffering.
76. How many countries in the world are
Buddhist?
There are about 13 Buddhist countries in the world.
77. Why can’t monks dig?
Monks should not
do difficult work
with their body.
78. Why do we have monks?
Monks help keep
Buddhism alive and make
merit for us.
They help us learn about
Buddhism and help us
when we are having
problems in our life.
79. Where did the word “monk” come
from?
• It comes from the greek word “monakhos”
which means “alone.”
80. Why does the world have many
different religions?
Different
religions fit
different
cultures.
81. Who made the first temple?
We don’t know who made the first temple.
But the oldest temple or shrine is at Mahadevi temple in
Nepal.
82. Why does Steve Jobs love Buddhism?
• Buddhism was fashionable in America when
Steve Jobs was young. He was traveling and
learning about the world and wanted to try
something new.
83. Why did Buddha die?
• The Buddha died of food poisoning when he
ate some rotten pork.
84. Can a woman ordain for her parents?
In Thailand a woman cannot be a real nun.
But in some countries a woman can ordain.
This can make merit for their family.
85. Why do many people give a lotus to a
monk?
It is given to make merit and show
respect to the monk.
A lotus is a symbol of purity and
enlightenment.
It comes out of dirty water and is
still clean.
86. How many monks are there in the
world?
• Thailand has about 200,000 monks. There may
be about 500,000 in the world.
88. Why do monks get up early?
Because it is a
tradition.
We often do things
just to follow a
tradition.
89. Can monks go shopping?
Monks usually get the
things they need from
donations.
But sometimes they have
to go shopping.
90. Why are we born?
Because of the
sperm and the
egg.
91. Why did Baby Buddha take 7 steps?
The seven steps are for the
seven directions: North,
south, east, west, up,
down and here.
The seven steps go through
all the six realms of
suffering, to
enlightenment.
92. What is the link between spirit and
body?
• I believe that the nervous system is the spirit,
and electricity connects the nerves in your
body by sending messages in neurons.
93. Why are people afraid of ghosts?
People think ghosts are angry spirits that want revenge.
Sometimes people are afraid of ghosts even when they know
ghosts are not real.
94. Why do monks come and chant at a
funeral?
The monks
chant to make
merit for the
dead person so
they can have a
good rebirth.
95. Why do monks use a cloth to get
things from women?
• So the woman will not go near or touch the
monk.
96. Why do some people think we go to
heaven if we do good things?
• Some people think that god is watching us. He
will decide if we are good or bad after we die.
• Some people think that making merit makes
good karma that lets you go to heaven.
97. Why do some people not like
Buddhism?
• Some people hate religions that are different
from theirs because they have strong belief.
• Some say Buddhists have a nihilistic way of
thinking because they say life is suffering.
• Sometimes monks do bad things.
98. Why is the birthday, enlightenment
day and death day of the Buddha the
same?
• This day is Visakha Puja day. It is easier to
remember all these things on the same day,
than making three different days.
99. What is enlightenment and nirvana?
• In Theravada Buddhism, a person that really
learns the four noble truths can be an arahant
or enlightened person. After they die they will
go to nirvana.
• In Mahayan Buddhism, it is when a person
sees that everything is changing, and there is
no self. Then they will not cling to things.
100. Why did the Buddha have light around
his head?
The halo means he is
enlightened.
101. What did the Buddha eat?
• He ate mostly vegetarian food.
Thick milk-rice porridge and fresh ghee (Udana 4.3)
Wild rice (Majjhima Nikaya I. 78)
Rice with grains (M. 247), (Majjhima Nikaya 36.33)
Barley meal honey balls (Vinaya I. 4)
Choice rice with curry (Majjhima Nikaya II. 7)
Rose apple, mango, myrobalan fruits (Vin. I. 30)
Steamed barley and rice (Vinaya, Suttavibhanga 1)
Lettuce and fruit salad (Vinaya, Suttavibhanga 33.1)
Vegetables and rice (Vinaya, Cullavagga VI 4.1)
Milk (Vinaya, Mahavagga VI 34.20)
Conjey (watery rice porridge) and honey lumps (Vinaya, VI 24.3-7)
Vegetables and bread (Vinaya, VI 36.7)
102. Why is the Buddha’s son named
Rahula?
The name Rahula means
“burden”
ภาระ or โซ่ตรวน
103. In Buddha’s opinion, what is a good
way to act?
• A good person will follow the five precepts.
• They will help others and help their community.
• They should always try to learn and improve
themselves.
• They should not be greedy or have desire.
104. Does Ganga live in the river?
Yes but you need to scuba dive to meet
her.
105. Why do you think Buddhism is a good
religion?
106. Why do monks chant until midnight on
monk days?
107. 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
