Thursday, 18 September 2008
Written by Heng Chivoan
The Phnom Penh Post
Monks pray on behalf of the dead and bless the food relatives will later offer their deceased ancestors, at a predawn ceremony at Kandal province's Wat Srey Ompil on Tuesday to mark P'Chum Ben, or festival of the dead, celebrations. (Heng Chivoan)
Beggars waiting to ask for some money on the first day of Pchum Ben festival at Langka Pagoda, Phnom Penh. According to Rasmei Kampuchea Daily, there are more beggars now than ever in the city. Many of them come from Prey Veng and Svay Rieng Province. The authorities have plans to move them out of sight soon. Source: Rasmei Kampuchea Daily, October 3-4, 2004
14 comments:
Ohm ! Very pity.
Its sad to see people preach religion, but doesn't practice what they preach.
The title of this article "Well-fed When Dead ..." is rather misleading. The dead are only well-fed for 15 days a year, and it has been our religious custom for a long time. We can change that one full year if you wish, but who have all the money and the time to do that?
Not all the passing spirits were gone because of the hunger. They may be caused by old age, illness, traffic accidents, armed conflict, suicide, etc., just to name a few. Death caused by any reason is always a tragedy for the surviving relatives.
This is just a short span of timeframe for us to show our heartfelt consideration for the dead, not the controversy over them, whether one is Buddhist or not.
There are good and bad people in every religion, such as the well-publicised child abuse cases by the Christian priests, murderous attacks on civilians of other faiths encouraged by some extremist Imams in Islam, the caste system in Hinduism, the conspiracy to deceive and to dominate people of other faiths by some Judaism rabbis. The list goes on. No one is perfect, but the important thing is we need to expose the bad and the ugly in our faith, not to take a cheap shot at the religious teachings and tradition.
the monk can do more things to help the people unless there is lok hunxen.how can the monk do while they are always accused and beaten of being spies?
Don't feed the spirit when the body is gone; if the body is no longer there to accept earhtly things, use your resources to feed the living who are less fortunate that you are, even for just one day in a year. The spirits of the ancestors must be selfish and unfair to hold grudges with the living...
If you love, remember, and honor the ancestor's spirit, it has to have the capability to understand you without requiring the rituals...and not putting curses in a vicious cycle of grudges.
Now don't say this is a "put-down" on buddhism, but do we have proofs that this was what buddha told?
I saw many stupid Buddhists do the Bach Bay Ben (Throwing rice for the Preay).It a pure and ridiculous ignorance.
But In many pagodas, Monks and Tachi yeay Chi, keep the amount of food given by the Buddhist, and distribute to the people in need.
This has happened since in the Year 1980's.
Believe in religion, but we must be clever and must adapt our belief to the present siuation of our Country.
Think also to our soldiers guarding the border.We cannot live and enjoy our life alone.
Sama Samputtho!
Bubble gum! Bubble gum!
(I mean Bab-kamm).
That's Hun Sen's Regime.
What those beggars needed is jobs, jobs, jobs, and to get jobs, we must send Ah murderer Scam Rainxy back to Zimbabwe where he belong.
agreed! people must be fed well when they are alive, too, not just after they are dead. god bless khmer people.
12:56,
You are out of touch with reality,....... dumb fuck!!!
9:53,
Very well said!!
I strongly condem those people who do the Bach Bay Ban. They are crasy, ignorant and stupid.
Many of Cambodian provinces that bordering Vietnam such as Prey Veng and Svay Rieng Province are very poor! I have to wonder why these Cambodian provinces that are bordering Vietnam are are so poor since many of economic cooperation between Cambodia and Vietnam are taking place there! This is an eye opener for AH HUN XEN to re-examine his economic cooperation with Vietnamese along Cambodian borders!
I am amazed that AH HUN XEN haven't pay much attention to why those Cambodian provinces continue to be poor than the rest of Cambodian provinces even with all the economic development still going on between Vietnam!
All economic agreements need to be re-examining for the benefit of Cambodian people! Cambodian people deserve to get help from Cambodian government and they don't need to beg to be noticed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Are we famous for being a beggar country now?
Congratulation to Samdech Decho Hun Sen for having his name in the new 2007 Britainica book.
However, please check the content again! I feel so pity to Hun Sen for leaving such name in the World History.
In 2000, he said he wanted to stay in power for 10 more years.
On September 17, 2008, he said that he is still strong at 2013 and he will continue forever.
Imagine, how would Britainnica Encyclopeadia will describe Hun Sen, then?
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Why Hun Sen forget that Thaksin is Thai?
Even though Thaksin administration signed positive agreement over the Preah Vihear?
However, Thaksin also want to have good name in Thai history as well, not just money.
So, his 99 lease on Koh Kong province $1 billion development project will be another disaster.
Even Thailand has only 45 years maximum leasing while Vietnam has 49 years maximum leasing.
Wake up Hun Sen!
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Dear Kith Meng,
You are already rich and successful! We admire you so much.
However, why do you still invest in sin businesses such as Casino, gambling, building Entertainment center (Rock Center) next door to University to destroy the future of young Cambodian as bambooshot of the nation.
Now, his Mobitel Advertisement is only about promoting young people to play game!
You are too rich already, why you still need to buy 1,200 seats National Cultural (Bassac) Theatre and replaced with shitty 300 small theatre? Why do you need to do harmful to Khmer culture?
Khmer culture has already received enough suffering and destruction.
Perhap, Kith Meng should spend more time to watch Khmer Art Performance rather then spending time at Naga Casino.
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