Meditation on Thai(s)

I auditioned for a full music scholarship back in my college days just for kicks. Since I worked part-time in exchange for my violin lessons, I spent most of my free time practicing my pieces. The day of the audition came. Although I didn't get the scholarship because they favored the seasoned students, I was happy I gave my best performance.

There was this student who played this piece that captured my heart. After his performance, I went over and asked for the title. He gave me his music sheet and I told myself that I'm going to learn this beautiful piece someday.

Meditation from Thais is one of the world's great encore pieces written by French composer Jules Massenet in 1893 for the opera, Thais. The piece is an interlude towards the end of the opera as an opportunity for the maestro to show off his skill.

Thais is a novel by the French author Anatole France, which tells of a fourth century Egyptian courtesan called Thais. She was secretly converted to Christianity by an ascetic monk, Paphnutius. He persuaded her to reform her life and brought her to a convent and enclosed in a cell. After three years of penance she was released and placed among the nuns, but lived only fourteen days more, telling Paphnutius that she has had a vision of God. St. Thais is represented burning her treasures and ornaments, or praying in a cell and displaying a scroll with the words: "Thou who didst create me have mercy on me".

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Filipinos and Thais share some traits in common. Both are artistic, fun-loving, family-oriented, superstitious and religious in general. The difference lies in the religious upbringing of the people.

Most Filipinos are Christians and what is instilled in their hearts is learning to fear God. Fear is a crippling word. Fear retards growth. How can one be loved and have fears? Love conquers all fears. But the Spaniards were wise; they used fear to conquer our love.

On the other hand, Thai people are mostly Buddhists. They exude the aura of compassion and reverence for humans, animals and life. No one speaks ill of their king. The act of bowing itself is a sign of respect. They not only practice religion in their temples but extend it outside to their homes and daily lives making it a spiritual experience.

I was deeply touched by Thai PM Shinawatra's voluntary resignation this week out of dignity and respect for his king. His political party is even called Thai Rak Thai (Thais Love Thais). The word love is enough to show how a leader has the heart to care for his people. I spent a couple of months in Thailand a few years ago and fondly recalled how respectful the Thai people were of their Buddha and their King that it is forbidden to speak ill or criticize their monarch.

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Both meditations made me realize that no matter how worse the situation may be, there will always be something beautiful coming out of it. From a courtesan to a saint, came beautiful music. From religion to politics, comes beautiful music from people who yearn to be free.

Love or Fear. What is your faith based upon?

Bored Again? salvation lies within you http://boredagain.blogs.friendster.com/bored_again/