#hinblogging

🕯️A short introduction on Isan.

Northeast Thailand or Isan (อีสาน) (also as Isaan, Isarn, Issarn, Issan, Esan, Esarn) borders with Laos and Cambodia, consists of 20 provinces with a population of 22 million [1].

Map of Thailand showing the regions and provinces (redrawn after FAO 2008) [2, p. 10].

More info about all Thai regions can be read from this blog post: “Info for writer in Thai series fandom: Cultural differences in each area .” of @recentadultburnout [3]. I also found this photo from there. Please also check out their "Thai language and culture" index, it's really helpful and informative.

Isan is Thailand's largest region and takes up almost a third of Thailand’s land mass, yet, many of its provinces are still in poverty, have limited access to water and education [4]. Agriculture is the main sector of Isan’s economy [5]. 

The people of Isan are a mixture of Lao, Vietnamese, Khmer, Mon, Cham, and other Tai groups. It is also the origin of classic dishes like som tum (green papaya salad) and larb (ground meat salad) [6]. Isan is also famous for the production of the Queen of Thai silk - phrae wa (แพรวา) silk of the Phu Tai community [7]. More on phrae wa here.

In Isan, there are 12 Heet -14 Kong or Heet 12 - Kong 14. Heet 12 refers to the 12 traditional festivals or cultural practices followed each lunar month, reflecting Isan people’s belief in Buddhism, ancestors, and protective spirits. Kong 14 refers to 14 social norms that Isan people are expected to observe and be punished if violated (not through legal system from what I understand). It is important to note that some of the 12 Heet are celebrated all around Thailand, not limited to Isan only [8, p. 97–98].

The 12 Heet (ฮีตสิบสอง) are summarized [53][54] in this table by me, inspired by the table from “Heet-Kong Isaan (Isaan Tradition and Government): Problems and Potential of Natural Resources and Environment, Economy, Society and Local Wisdom of Isaan, Thailand” [56, p.4397]:

The 14 Kong are divided into 3 types depending on social statuses: (1) Administrators, Prince, Kings; (2) Buddhist monks; (3) Ordinary citizens. The 14 Kong for ordinary citizens, quote directly from “An Application of Isan Local Indigenous Knowledge in Suppression of Social Disputes” [55, p. 183], are:

1. Crops and foods after harvest should not be consumed immediately. The harvest should first be offered to the Buddhist Monks to make merit. 2. Do not be greedy and avid. Do not commit fraud, be selfish or be rude. 3. The community should build temple walls together and help each other build walls for each house. Towers of worship should be built on all four corners of the village and at each household. 4. A person's feet should be cleaned before entering the house. 5. When it is a Buddhist Sabbath day which is on the lunar calendar of 7-8-14-15 day, the people must pay homage to the house's Khon Sao (furnace), ladder and door. 6. A person's body and feed should be cleaned, bathed and properly dressed before sleep. 7. When it is Buddhist Sabbath day, the people should make offerings of flowers and incense to Buddhist monks. Wives should pay respect to their husbands. 8. When it is the 15th day of the lunar calendar, the people should invite Buddhist monks to their house to perform merit ceremony and receive food offerings from the host. 9. When providing food offerings to Buddhist Monks, the people should not keep the monks in waiting. During offerings the people should not be wearing shoes or sandles, should not be carrying umbrellas or wear head cloths. They should not be carrying children or carry any types of weapons or touch the monk's food vessel. 10. When Buddhist are confined to temples and monestary's during resentment period, the people should provide offerings of flowers, incense and candles. 11. When Buddhist monk's are about to pass, the people should kneel and pay their respects and homage before engaging in conversation 12. Do not step on the shadows of Buddhist monks. 13. Do not provide leftovers to Buddhist Monks and to husbands. If this crime is committed, then the guilty will be committing great sin in this life and the next. 14. When it is Buddhist Lent day, Oog Pansa, Songran, the people should refrain from intercourse or else their children will become stubborn and hard to teach.

The 4 major cities of Isan are Khorat, Khon Kaen, Udon Thani and Ubon Ratchathani - the setting of the story.

🕯️Khatha

They are all incanting khatha.

Khatha (คาถา) is sacred Pali prayers, mantras and other magical incantations. Tham script is said to be what khatha is written and spoken in [9, p. 34].

Three major traditional scripts in Isan are: Tham, Thainoi, and Khom.

The Khom script: from the ancient Khmer script, primarily used in stone inscriptions and Buddhist texts.

The Tham script: the script of Dharma - Buddha’s teachings, from the ancient Mon script; is used to inscribe Buddhist texts.

The Thainoi script: from the Sukhothai script, administrative texts and secular literature.

[10, p. 63-64]

🕯️Por Kru

The series chose to translate the title Por Kru as Grand Master.

Por Kru (พ่อครู) is a title given to a magic master. Por (พ่อ) is father [11] and Kru (ครู) is teacher [12].

The concept of kru in Thailand is not really straightforward as just teachers, especially in Isan where village culture remains prominent. In “Village Life Culture and Transition in Thailand's Northeast”, before modern schooling systems were built in these villages, boys were educated at temples. They learnt to write and read in Tham script, khatha, magic, and even expertise like carpentry, crafting,...from abbots and monks [9, p. 33-38]. This paragraph really summarized kru hundreds times better than we can.

“Khru is an essential concept in traditional village culture. [...] a khru is not simply a person who has passed knowledge to his disciples. Rather, a khru personifies the whole process of the passing of wisdom, knowledge and skills th[r]ough the generations. Before performing any important act, villagers will remind themselves of their khru in an act of recognition and gratitude, and with a declaration of faith in the values received. The khru symbolises the line of life and the spirit of tradition. People who are khru not only 'teach', in the modern sense of the word, telling, advising and explaining to their disciple, and providing knowhow, but also disseminate a 'spirit', a knowledge incorporating values and spirit, life, energy, and other forces. In fact, everything that the khru has and is, is given to the disciple. One might say that khru give their 'life' to their acolytes.” [9, p. 58]

>> Updated: Por can be understood as a gender indicator.

🕯️Khemjira’s name

Khemjira means "to forever be safe".

Khem (เขม) means เกษม “happiness” [13], ความสบายใจ "comfortableness" [14] and ความพ้นภัย - being out of danger [15][16]. It comes from the Pali khema and Sanskrit kṣema (क्षेम) [17, p. 383].

Jira (จิรา) is from Pali cira [17, p. 418] "lasting long" [18] and Sanskrit cira (चिर) "lasting a long time" [19]. 

We could not figure out why it’s a girl’s name. However, we think it’s related to the Buddhist bhikkhuni (nun) Khema, with the same Pali and Sanskrit root as Khem (เขม), and was one of the top female disciples of the Buddha [20]. Also the meaning of the name is happiness, safety, which maybe could be typically for girls rather than for boys in Thai culture, that’s just a guess. 

🕯️Takrut (Khem)

In the series, they referred to it as amulets, there are many types of Thai amulets and Khem’s is a takrut. In the novel, it is specifically a tiger leather takrut.

Takrut (ตะกรุด) is a type of tubular amulet that originated from Thailand.

A long hollow cylinder with varying length and thickness, made from metal like gold, red gold, silver, copper, tin or lead, inscribed on the metal itself or a small piece of paper with Yantra (ยันต์). It can be worn with a gold or silver chain, usually as a necklace, a chain over the right shoulder, an armlet or a girdle [21][22][23]. There are 4 classes of magical amulets in Thai culture and takrut belongs to the class kruang pluk sek (เครื่องปลุกุเสก เครื่องปลุกเสก) - pluk sek means “to arouse the potency of a person or an object by the use of a spell or incantation”, in a sense “a consecration, a blessedness” [23].

🕯️Amulets (Villagers)

The amulet Chai is using here, I believe it’s khruang rang.

Thailand charms and amulets are called khong khlang (ของขลัง) - “sacred, potent objects or talismans” [23, p. 171-172] and can be divided into 4 major types or classes [51]:

(1) Khruang rang (เครื่องราง): Material substances turned into stone or copper charms. For protection. Usually wear on the body or mouth.

(2) Phra khruang (พระเครื่อง): Small Buddha figurines either by clay, votive tablets, casting or carving. Protection for people or homes or to fulfill a vow.

(3) Khruang pluk sek (เครื่องปลุกุเสก): Extremely powerful charms activated through spells or incantations.

(4) Wan ya (ว่านยา): Folk medicine. Medicinal plants and roots used by shamans to treat illness or heal and protect against spirits.

🕯️Yantra (ยันต์)

Yantra (ยันต์) is a sacred geometrical, animal, and deity design accompanied by Pali phrases that are said to offer the bearer power, protection, fortune, charisma, and other benefits. It is often written on cloth and also adorns the human body in the shape of spiritual tattoos known as sak yant or yantra tattoos [24].

I could not find any source on this scene so this is my personal interpretation: The talisman Jet gave Khem might be a piece of cloth or a paper with yantra on it. It burned, not necessarily because the ghost burned it, more like its power was spent protecting Khem.

>> Correction: It is ผ้ายันต์ /phaa yan/ = Yantra cloth

🕯️Luang Por

Both Jet and Khem referred to Khem’s father as Luang Por.

Luang Por (หลวงพ่อ) is a title given to a Thai male monk whose age is around that of the speaker's father. Luang (หลวง) could mean "royal; of the court; superior; official; great" [25]. Por (พ่อ) is father [11]. It refers to a Buddhist Monk and can be understood as 'venerable monk' ‘Reverend Father’, or ‘Main Father’ [26][27].

🕯️Khemjira prostrated to the floor before leaving his father.

In the novel, Khemjira was also described to be prostrating on the floor 3 times when meeting his father. We think this is the krap (กราบ) where one has to kneel down and bowing to the floor in reverence.

It can be described as kneeling with your heels under you, hands in a “budding lotus.” Lift them to your forehead, then place your right hand on the floor, then the left, leaving space between. Bow your forehead to the gap, return, and repeat three times slowly. Another way is to place both palms down at once [28, p. 14-18]. This is a free book published by the Fine Arts Department of Thailand on not just the krap but the wai, and their description, variations, meanings and even cultural significance in Thai, accompanied with images.

This is a video of someone doing the krap paying respect to Buddha [29].

🕯️Holy thread & Holy water

When Jet came to Paran, he was in the middle of a ritual where he was chanting khatha and pouring water on a woman with a white thread on her head.

Holy thread, or sai sin (สายสิญจน์), is a long white thread that monks hold while praying and chanting prayers. People believe it can protect against dangers, e.g., ghosts, spirits, demons and is auspicious [30]. It is used in many ceremonies in Thailand like weddings and funerals or as bracelets [31].

In a Monk Blessing Ceremony (Tor Ar Yu), a length of cotton thread is held by nine monks, connected with the congregation through ceremonial candles, a Buddhist altar, and a golden bowl of holy water. The prayers and ceremony last about thirty minutes. Afterward, the holy thread is then left with the family as the monks leave and the elders in the group cut pieces of the thread to make string bracelets [32].

Holy water (น้ำมนต์ / น้ำมนตร์) is combined of Water (น้ำม) and Mantra/ Incantation/ Magic (มนต์/มนตร์) [33] and the making of holy water in Thailand is originated from Buddhism [34, p. 313-314]. Holy water can be used for blessing; purifying; cure people from evil forces, black magic or illness; massage women during difficult childbirth, etc… [9, p. 26].

There are different ways to make holy water.

Seri Phongphit and Kevin Hewison described how a Maw nam mon (holy water healers) in Northeast Thailand’s villages make holy water: They prepare a bowl of clean water (usually rain water), a pair of candles and incense sticks, a pair of flowers, a small sum of money. The Maw lights a candle, chants khatha, and lets the candle wax fall into the water [9, p. 61-62].

"close up of Buddhist monk's hand pouring melt candle tears to the water for making blessing water in Thai wedd." - 📷: Gunnerleng

Holy items like magical substances or amulets can also empower water. If immersing amulets in Holy water while chanting, both the Holy water and the amulet are said to be even more powerful. Another method is to let magic candles drop wax into the water and “using the ritual knife (mitmor), or ritual dagger (Grich/Keris), to stir the water whilst performing incantations” [35].

Suggesting holy water for Ice Bucket Challenge, Banthoon Lamsam - the Kasikornbank Chairman and CEO - said true holy water should have candle wax floating on it [36]. (It's not like he is a holy water expert, I just find the thought of using holy water for this is so funny so I have to share LOL)

🕯️Karmic enemy

Technically, what he said here is “karmic enemy”.

Karmic enemy (เจ้ากรรมนายเวร) is a vengeful spirit whom a person hurt in the previous life; as a consequence, it is seeking revenge in the person's current life.

From เจ้า (jâao, “chief, lord, master; owner”) +‎ กรรม (gam, “karma; retribution; sin”) +‎ นาย (naai, “chief, lord, master”) +‎ เวร (ween, “sin; revenge, vengeance”) [37]. It could also in the present life, as in the past, you may have done something bad to someone and they want to seek revenge now or in the future. It could be a person or animal, not necessarily a spirit [38].

It can also be used to “refer to people who we don't like but keep having to meet and interact with” i.e Pat calls Pran in Bad Buddy, from “Info for writer in Thai series fandom: Superstitions, beliefs and ghosts.” [39].

🕯️Kumanthong

The 2 little mischievous boys on Paran’s altar are called kumanthong.

Kuman thong (กุมารทอง) means “golden little boy”, originated from ancient Thai manuscripts of black magic, where the practitioner took still born fetuses, performed rituals to invite the child’s spirit and coated them with a gold leaf lacquer. This kind of method is illegal in Thailand, yet, there was a reported case in 2012. [40]

Nowadays, Kuman thong often exists in the shape of a child, like statues, dolls, almost like amulets [41]. People adopted and raised Kuman thong as their children, including taking care of them, feeding them, and worshipping them. They can bring luck, wealth or cause harm, depending on the worshipper’s request. They can protect the owner and their family from harm, support business, provide warnings of danger, guard the home, watching for thieves or enemies and prevent them from entering. [42]

🕯️Anguished spirit - Phi tai hong

The tunnel that bus was stuck in is full of Phi tai hong (ผีตายโหง).

It is the vengeful and restless spirit of a person who suddenly suffered a violent or cruel death. Tai hong means "to die an unnatural and violent death, such as being murdered or drowning" and Phi tai hong means the ghost of a person who died in such a manner.

This is also how all the male descendants before Khem died before their 21st birthday.

🕯️Paran’s tattoo

● Yantra Tattooing / Sak Yant (สักยันต์)

With sak (สัก) means “to tattoo”, sak yant could be understood as “magical or sacred tattoo” protect the bearer from various kinds of harm such as knives, swords and bullets [43]. It was originally used by warriors to protect themselves from arrows in the battlefield [42]. While tattooing, the master “murmurs Buddhist chants to imbue the tattoo with special powers [...] the person receiving the tattoo should say prayers, which will add to the powers of the tattoo.” [44, p. 5]

These tattoos are normally given by a Buddhist Monk or Brahmin Priest but can also be performed by a layman, traditionally using a long bamboo stick with a split sharpened point like a quill (mai sak) or a long metal spike (khem sak) [45]. Angelina Jolie came to Thailand to get her sak yant [46].

Sak yant can also be made from plant oils and it will be invisible after healing [39], which is how the series is going to present Paran’s chest tattoo. According to the author Cali, it will only be visible when he is using his power [47].

● Sarika Kuu Dok Bua tattoo

It is described in Chapter 6 of the novel that Paran got a Sarika Kuu Dok Bua tattoo from his chest to Adam’s apple. You can see it glowed up on the screenshot above.

It is a tattoo helps with love life and popularity. It consists of 2 elements: Salika Birds (นกสาลิกา/สาลิกา) and Lotus (Dok Bua).

Salika (สาลิกา) could means either magpie (Corvinae family) or myna/ mynah (Sturnidae family) [48]. In Thai folktales, it is able to imitate sounds and sweet-talk [49], and as a pair of love birds, bring mystical power of love, attraction and improving relationships [50]. A salika is a tiny takrut that can be kept between the teeth and will allow the user to become a very persuasive talker [51].

📷: เกื้อกูล ปลีหะจินดา [52]

Interviewer: Now that you've started gaining fame and popularity, drama has often followed. I'm sure some of you have seen this before. How did you feel about it?

Jimmy: Regarding the shipping, we've divided it into two parts: us as actors, and our fans. We believe that what we do should come from what makes us happy. To be honest, the work we do brings joy to our fans, and there are many people who like and love us. Therefore, we focus on what makes us happy. We always give each other consent and communicate openly, asking for permission before posting anything we want to share. So, it's not something that worries us.

Interviewer: So it's about spreading joy beyond just the series.

Namping: Yes, I encourage everyone to be open-minded. Within our company, no one has ever pressured or forced us to do anything. The company culture - from the first generation to the present - has always emphasized cherishing one another like family. Because our family is still growing and we aren't a massive corporation with hundreds or thousands of artists, we genuinely know everyone here. When we work with our partners, we become very close. Most importantly, consent is key. Whenever anything is posted, the people involved always approach us first to ask for permission, and we're all happy to give it. We haven't misbehaved, caused trouble, or acted in any way that negatively affects society or others - and that's an important point. We haven't harmed anyone; we're happy in our own space, and we bring happiness to those who choose to share that space with us. If both sides are happy, I don't see it as a problem.

Interviewer: When there are people who focus on this issue rather than on your good work and what you give back to the audience, do you feel stressed about it?

Namping: Actually, we aren't all that stressed. We do talk to each other, but we communicate like mature adults. To be honest, when the drama first began, we were flooded with comments from various places, many of which were anonymous - we don't even know who's behind those keyboards. Because of that, we've learned not to give them too much importance. For us, everyone in the company knows the truth about the situation and about our relationships. We know that everything we give is sincere and genuine. For example, Phi Tho truly took good care of Kong, and Jimmy and Ohm have their own unique ways of showing their affection. Ultimately, we want everyone to keep an open mind about DoMunDi. We hope people will focus on our acting skills and all the other talents we're continually working to improve. We'd prefer that attention shift away from this issue and toward the bigger picture - like our chemistry when we're together. Do you enjoy it? Do you want to keep supporting us? That's entirely up to each individual. Whether you view it as fan service or not is a topic open to debate. We aren't forcing anyone to adopt a single viewpoint; it depends on each person's perspective. We simply don't want this issue to cause any further drama.

Interviewer: I believe there are more people who love you than those who don't.

Some related posts:

Namping: There are times when certain issues arise and have the potential to spread widely. However, the most important thing is that I don't want everyone to be carried away by the current narrative. Sometimes, these issues originate from something very small and then snowball, spreading to involve other artists, the company,

or even creating broad stereotypes - like the idea that actors from this company must fit a certain mold or follow a specific pattern. The question is: how can people claim to have these "insights"? They are, at the end of the day, just opinions. And often, those opinions are generated and amplified by a small group of people who want the public to see us and the company only through their perspective. Therefore, we ask everyone to exercise discretion and critical thinking when consuming media. Instead of focusing on those narratives, please look deeper - into our relationships, our genuine work, our abilities, and the things we're actively doing. Don't underestimate our determination, regardless of factors like gender identity or expression. I truly want everyone to see the bigger picture. As I've mentioned before, Thai society may not have fully opened up to diversity yet - and that might be true. We're still questioned for things like having "dolly eyes" on a male actor. Sometimes, "Nong Kong" might want to look cute, while "Nong Ohm" might want to look cool. These situations bring us back to the core question of identity. Right now, that debate is ongoing, and I believe it will lead to important social progress. It will raise awareness that BL actors can embrace and express themselves however they wish. They shouldn't be confined to a rigid box where, as male actors, they must conform to society's narrow views - that they must be "blue" and not "pink." This ongoing discussion is vital for society, and it will undoubtedly help drive genuine social development.

Kru Den - Khemjira's director - shared some of his old photos back in school vs. now and expressed the fun of experimenting as a queer man.

A few hours before this interview was live, Nunew also shared his thoughts on this (Translations). Kim and Namping reposted it.

🕯️1. Nang Mai (นางไม้) - Nymph

According to the Royal Institute Dictionary, B.E. 2554 (2011), the term Nang Mai (นางไม้) is defined as: "A female ghost believed to inhabit large trees, especially the Takian tree."

 No one can see the palace it has built in the tree, and if someone cuts it down, they will be cursed, sickly, or possibly go insane. In paintings, novels, and folklore, Nang Mai are typically imagined as beautiful young women with long hair, dressed in traditional Thai clothing—wearing a sabai / sbai (draped shawl) and chong kraben or pleated wrap-around skirt. They are believed to inhabit trees of significant size but not excessively huge ones. In many places, villagers tie three-colored cloths around trees after someone reports seeing a Nang Mai appear there.

In Thai tradition, there are both benevolent and malevolent Nang Mai. The benevolent ones often appear in beautiful forms to warn humans of dangers, while the malevolent ones may seduce men, take them as husbands, or even kill them. There are many types of Nang Mai, such as Nang Takhian and Nang Tani. 

(In the EP4 Reaction video, FirstOne also said that “She’s actually not evil, right?”. As mentioned above, there are two kinds of Nang mai so he was confirming that said Nang Mai was originally benevolent but turned evil because of Ramphueng)

Nang Tani and Nang Takhian are also regarded as Nang Mai, although a person who commits suicide and their spirit becomes trapped in that tree is not regarded as a Nang Mai.

The Nang Takhian version of Nang mai or Nang mai who inhabits a large tree is considered to be one of the most hostile Nang mai because they believe that the larger the tree, the older and more haunting it is. Some people also say that the more sap the tree produces, the more haunting the Nang mai who live in it are.

[1][2][3] 

A large Takhian tree - it took 7 people to be able to circle it - 📷: ภาพ/ข่าว ปัณณวิชญ์ พะเยา/ศูนย์ข่าวภาคเหนือ (via Thai independent news agency)

🕯️2. The 3 students’ punishments - observe the Eight Precepts for life

The Eight Precepts of life are [4]:

Refrain from killing living beings.

Refrain from stealing.

Refrain from all sexual activity.

Refrain from false or harmful speech.

Refrain from intoxicating drinks or drugs.

Refrain from eating after midday.

Refrain from entertainment, singing, dancing, music, and using perfumes or cosmetics.

Refrain from using luxurious seats or beds.

It is said to be observed by laypeople during intensive meditation periods or on the Uposatha Day (the full moon and new moon days) [5]. It is unclear if the 3 students will have to observe them on the Uposatha Day only or daily for the rest of their life. 

🕯️3. Suicide - Cannot be reincarnated as humans

Buddhism considers the root of killing rather than just its form, and it determines whether or not it is morally wrong based on a variety of complex and contextual elements. Suicide is viewed negatively by Buddhists since the first precept forbids destroying life, including one's own self; therefore, it is subject to the same moral standards as other forms of murder. When someone commits suicide out of rage, their final thoughts may cause them to reincarnate in a world of sadness.

We could only find information about the consequences of suicide, but none of that mentions not being able to reincarnate as humans (as Ramphueng implied, I think it's just one of the possible outcomes):

Buddhism recognises thought processes as rapid successions of thought after thought, and that the last thought of this life is the first thought and beginning of the next life. Since a person who is committing suicide is always associated with some degree of depression, misery, sadness, sorrow, hatred, anger, or pain, death by suicide will almost certainly lead to rebirth in lower realms of misery with possibly even greater sufferings, which counter the path towards enlightenment.

Those who end their own lives thinking that doing so would solve their problems, will in fact be born again and they will continue to suffer perhaps in more severe conditions.

[6][7][8]

🕯️4. The food offered to the dead cannot be eaten by the living

We cannot find more information about this belief. In Vietnam, food offered to our ancestors can still be eaten. However in this blog post of a man attending the Boon Khao Sak (บุญข้าวสาก) in Isan with his wife, he mentioned how the villagers would wrapped up the offered food for their family spirits and would place them in the “sugar cane fields, rice paddies, and other lands to feed the spirits (ghosts) that inhabit them” later. The villagers were said to go back and eat the leftover food from the offerings to the Monks.[9]

moonfordmdboy (Twitter), translated by ursdiorjk [10] stated:

“The living should not eat food that was intentionally prepared for the deceased, as it is considered an offering to the dead. Eating it oneself is seen as taking away the merit or blessing meant for the deceased, which can make the original intention incomplete. When making merit for the dead, it must be done with a pure heart. If someone eats the food first, it shows impurity of intention, and the merit or blessing may be diminished.” [11]

🕯️5. The concept of merit (บุญ) & making merit (ทำบุญ)

Merit (บุญ)

Merit or bun (บุญ) comes from punya in Sanskrit and punna in Pali, means “a virtuous or meritorious act, good or virtuous works”, “merit, meritorious action, virtue” [12] [13]. Merit in Buddhism is the accumulation of positive kamma (karma) through virtuous thoughts, words, and actions carried out with sincerity and purity of intention [14].

Many Thai believe in rebirth, that the life you live now is shaped by your past life, and the life to come will be shaped by how you live today [15, p. 49]. Therefore, merit influence karma and becomes essential in two main ways:

(1) Securing a favorable rebirth blessed with happiness, prosperity, and wealth;

→ Some Isan villagers believed if merit outweighs demerit, the soul goes to heaven until merit is used up, after which rebirth on earth follows.

→ If both merit and demerit are present, a person may first endure hell until their demerit is expiated, then enjoy heaven before being reborn.

→ If it was a life full of sin, a person may be in hell or wander the earth as phii before they can be reborn. [16, p. 54]

(2) Creating a happy and virtuous state of mind in this life.

→ Reflecting the view that virtue and purity, while fragile and easily disturbed, are the best preventive against misfortune. [16, p. 54]

Merit is also helpful for magical power of shaman, as demonstrated by Paran performed “Heaven and Earth Worship Ritual” getting responds from the divine as gentle rainfalls in EP 3 and “An Invitation to the Devas” getting help from the deities and gods to temporarily defeat Ramphueng in EP 2. Paran is someone with a lot of merit.

The Buddha said:

"According to the seed that’s sown, So is the fruit ye reap therefrom, Doer of good evil gather good, Doer of evil, evil reaps. Sown is the seed, and thou shalt taste the fruit thereof." [17]

Making merit (ทำบุญ)

The Buddha first explained Three Grounds of Meritorious Deeds:

Generosity or Giving (dana): giving, sharing, or supporting others to ease suffering.

Precept or Moral Behavior Observance (sila): living ethically by keeping precepts, fostering good relationships, and avoiding harmful behavior.

Mental development (bhavana): training the mind and developing wisdom..

Later, these were expanded into the Ten Grounds of Merit-Making:

Generosity or Giving (Danamaya)

Sharing or Giving out Merit (Pattidanamaya): dedicating the merit of one’s good deeds to others.

Rejoicing in the Merits of Others (Pattanumodanamaya): expressing joy or saying sathu (*) when others do good.

(*) Sathu (สาธุ) is a word equivalent to "amen" in Christianity. It can be variously translated as "amen", "good", "yes "thank you", "I have received", "well done", "be it so" or "all shall be well" (from Wikipedia).

Observing precepts (Silamaya).

Humility or Reverence (Apacayanamaya): showing reverence toward individuals with (1) age; (2) virtues or qualifications; (3) royal or noble qualifications. Ex: parents, teachers, monks, elders, or leaders.

Rendering Righteous Endeavors or Services (Veyyavacaccamaya): helping with wholesome activities that benefit others and the community.

Mental Development  (Bhavanamaya): practicing meditation and developing wisdom for inner clarity and peace.

Listening to Dharma (Dharmassavanamaya): actively and intentionally listening.

Teaching Dharma (Dharmadesanamaya): being a positive example by embodying Dharma principles.

Correcting One’s Views(Ditthujukamaya): developing clear and realistic understanding of good and bad actions and their consequences.

[14] 

📷: Ian (via iamkohchang) [24]

Thai ways of making merits [14]

Daily: Offering alms to monks and novices during their morning rounds.

Occasional: Observing precepts, meditation, and making offerings on holy days such as Visakha Puja, Asalha Puja, Magha Puja, and during Buddhist Lent…

On Special Occasions: ⇨ Auspicious Occasions: Births, weddings, graduations, house moving,... Giving alms to monks or donating to temples, seeking blessings for health, happiness, and prosperity. ⇨ Inauspicious Occasions: Illness or death. Giving alms to monks or donating to temples, seeking blessings for recovery or aid the deceased’s journey towards a positive rebirth, especially on the 7th, 50th, and 100th days after death, funerals or cremations.

Making merit is the core of Thai culture as well as many ceremonies, rituals, rites, festivals, special occasions in Thailand, including the 12 Heet - as mentioned in EP 1 post, 12 traditional festivals or cultural practices followed each lunar month, reflecting Isan people’s belief in Buddhism, ancestors, and protective spirits [18, p.97 - 98]. Just by participating in these ceremonies, it is both making merit and sharing one’s merit, the merit multiplies [15, p. 50]. In the past, during rice production or when going to fish or find food in the forest, villagers considered not only their and their family consumption, but also the need to make merit to the community, relatives, friends, monks, those in need and supernatural beings.[15,  p. 52]

When making merit by bringing food and alms to the temple for the monks’ morning and midday meals on Buddhist holy days, the monks recite prayers before and after the meal. During their after-meal prayer, they ask the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha to acknowledge the donors’ good deeds and invoke blessings upon said donors. In this case, the monks provide the donors with the opportunity to make and receive merit. Similarly, the monks’ daily alms round is a blessing for the people, an opportunity to make merit [15, p. 50]. In the Buddhist view, merit is made not by giving, but “`acquired' by the willingness of the monks to receive” and the monk “is capable of transferring some kind of spiritual grace to the giver” [16, p. 53]. 

Villagers Make Offering of Food for the Monks - 📷: Allen A Hale (via Allen's World) [9]

A son will be ordained as monk to accrue merit for his parents as a way to show their gratitude. Some believe “once a son has been ordained his parents will have the yellow robe as a means of ascending to heaven”. If he has not been ordained while his parents are alive, they might not have enough merit to go to heaven and have a better next life. [15, p. 51]

🕯️6. Khem shared the merit with his mom - อุทิศส่วนบุญกุศล

In the novel, Chapter 12: “Khem shared the merit with his mom by pouring water from the brass vessel onto the ground.”

In Buddhist countries, merit is believed to be transferable and “sustains living beings in the afterlife”. Therefore, people share merit to the deceased loved ones by giving and donating to the monastic community. The recipient of said merit can have the merit as their needed items in the next life, and the giver’s merit does not decrease.[19] A Buddhist libation is often a way to make merit and transfer merit in Thailand like kruat nam (กรวดน้ำ) [20, p. 43], whether pouring into a vessel or onto the ground [21].

After an act of merit, by pouring water on the earth, some Thai people believe they “transfer some of this merit to the dead, to the gods, to other humans [...] thereby calling upon the goddess of the earth, Nang Thoranee (*), to witness the act.” [16, p.52]

(*) This is Phra Mae Thorani - Thailand Mother Earth Goddess Paran was calling for help in EP 2.

🕯️7. Sacred rice - Young Pharan used it to chase the ghost away

Rice is essential to Thai culture. Rice has traditionally been considered one of the most essential items by Thai people because of their long-standing tight ties to agriculture and rice cultivation. Additionally, rice is considered a sacred offering that comes from Phra Mae Phosop (the Rice Goddess). 

Ancient Thai occult practices see sacred rice as a ritual element. It can be applied in a variety of ways based on the objective. For example, in the literary work Khun Chang Khun Phaen, when Khun Phaen cast a spell over Khun Chang's home, he utilized rice dyed with magical herbs as a ritual tool. After lighting candles for the spell on the fence or the veranda, he would throw the enchanted, herb-dyed rice onto the roof of the house, believing it would put the people inside into a deep sleep.

Purpose of the sacred rice: 

Throwing it at different locations to drive away evil spirits and misfortune. 

Carrying it to protect ourselves from misfortune and evil spirits.

Sprinkling it on the main pillars or corners of a new house brings auspiciousness to the dwelling.

[22][23]

Bonus: the ghost in EP 1 is phi pop (ผีปอบ).

From Zeya on Twitter because she is Thai and I think she covered everything:

"Thai children often grow up hearing this phrase from adults in the home when we are naughty, such as "If you are naughty, watch out, a ผีปอบ (Phi-phop) will come and eat your liver."😶 So ผีปอบ is a type of ghost that is part of Thai folk beliefs, especially in the Isan region. It's believed to be a ghost that eats raw meat and never gets enough. They will keep looking for prey and only eat the internal organs, such as the chickens or dogs that the villagers keep. It's believed that those who become a Phi phop are usually those who use spells. 🙏🕯️or black magic. When they are unable to keep the spells they have or they break the prohibitions by using the spells to do bad things, it causes the bad things to come back to them. So they become Phi phop // Our Khemjira and Dang almost had his liver eaten. My babyy 😭🙏"

🕯️8. Misc:

About Charn's ability

moonfordmdboy (Twitter)[11], translated by ursdiorjk [10]:

"Charnvit has a strong mind because he was born on a Wednesday night. In Thai belief, people born on Wednesday night are thought to be “not blinded by spirits” ( “ไม่โดนผีบังตา”/ mai don phi bang ta) (phi bang ta - explained in EP 2 post), meaning they are protected from spiritual interference. When walking into the forest, such people are like living compasses; they can navigate and find lost individuals. People who get lost in the forest are often said to be “led astray by forest spirits or local guardian spirits,” but those born on Wednesday night are believed to have protective power for themselves and others, enabling them to guide others to safety."

In the novel: Ascension Ritual (พิธีสวดส่งวิญญาณ)

In the novel, Chapter 9:

“Khemjira shook his teary face, his large eyes pleading as he looked at Por Kru’s face. “So, what should I do?” Paran lifted the enchanted pot to place it in front of him. “Take it and have the temple perform the Ascension Ritual (*) for her. Let her go where she belongs.” “

(*) Ascension Ritual (พิธีสวดส่งวิญญาณ) is a ritual to send the soul on earth to a better and higher plain of existence.

We were unable to find credible info on this and we don't know for sure if it's what Khem was doing here. Just note it in case anyone interested or have a source!