A Simple Life, But Not Ordinary One.
Chaiyadej Maneesri
Insurance Agent, Phuket
What does a good, enviable life look like to you? Is it traveling the world to collect as many experiences as possible? Trying extreme, life risking adventures? Or pushing yourself to the absolute limit inwhat you do?
For many people, though, a good life is much simpler than that — being able to eat well, sleep well, and stay healthy. Because within that simplicity and peace, there’s space to use the rest of your time to give back to society and to those you’re grateful to.
Chaiyadej Maneesri, an insurance agent from Phuket, is someone who believes in exactly that.
Were you originally from Phuket?
Yes. Both my parents are from Phuket. We’re a Buddhist family. When I was young, the adults would take us to the temple on every Buddhist holy day. At home, we would talk about what food to cook to offer to the monks the next day. Growing up like this, I naturally absorbed the ideas of making merit and practicing Dhamma. I’m the youngest of five children, and all of us would go to the temple together regularly.
Besides making merit and chanting, did you start practicing meditation from a young age as well?
Yes. I’ve always liked making merit, paying respect to the Buddha, and chanting. I also practiced meditation. My mother had me sit in meditation from a young age. Among my siblings, I’m the only one who did this consistently, probably because I’m much younger than the fourth child — about six years apart — so I spent a lot of time with my mother. When I was younger, I met many teachers. Some taught me to repeat “Buddho,” some taught walking meditation. I practiced until I could sit for long periods — two to three hours, even an entire day. Back then, there was no TV, no phone, nothing. I even went to practice at forest temples — real ones, not comfortable at all.
As you grew up, did you ever question why you were doing all this? Whether it was really beneficial?
When it comes to karma – merit and sin – I’ve always had the answer in my mind that heaven and hell are real, and karma is real. Partly because I believe what my teachers taught. But having lived to 54 now, I’ve seen half a lifetime. I’ve seen many kinds of people, and I’ve seen suffering. I’ve asked myself: why do people suffer? Why is everyone’s suffering different?
One thing I know for sure is that I’m not the only one who suffers. Everyone does. So one thing I try to give others is to guide them into Dhamma practice. Friends, acquaintances, even insurance clients, many of them. After they finished a course, some caledl me and cried. Some came to my office just to talk. What I give them is to help them see things as they truly are. Each person’s background is different, but the truth of the world is the same. This is something I’m proud of – that I was once a receiver, and now I can be a giver.
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