Thai Student Association brings Buddhist spirituality to CU
The TSA is a community of Thai students, most of whom are international, who come together to form an organization that works to create a sense of community for Thai students on campus.
TSA members work to make sure they don’t forget their Thai upbringings by inviting all those interested in Buddhism to learn about their culture. The dominant religion in Thailand is Buddhism, a faith and way of life that includes a belief in karma and nirvana.
Wat Buddhavararam is a Buddhist temple in Denver that some TSA members attend regularly for meditation. Some students also go to the temple during holidays, such as the Therevadin Buddhist New Year in April.
Watcharapong Ratisukpimol, a graduate student in economics, was the president of TSA from 2006 to 2007. He is an international student from Thailand.
“We are participants in the International Student Scholar Services which allows us to register for visas and anything else needed to live in the U.S.,” Ratisukpimol said. “We also participate in the International Festival that’s held every year.”
The International Festival gives international and multicultural organizations the opportunity to show other students about their background and culture.
“We have a booth at the festival with Thai food and handouts about Thailand,” Ratisukpimol said. “There is even a Thai quiz testing your knowledge of Thailand, and if you win, we give out prizes.”
Nattapong Damrongwiriyanupap is the current president of TSA and is a graduate student in civil engineering. He said though all the members of TSA are Buddhist, they are open to non-Thai and non-Buddhist students as well.
“What I want other students to know about us is we are a family community and we actually perform better in school because we are happy,” Damrongwiriyanupap said. “We are happier to come to a foreign country and study if we can be around others like us than to be alone.”
TSA is a group of 30 to 40 students who share common goals and spiritual beliefs. The students even live in the same area of family housing. Most of the monthly meetings are held in the president’s house or the house of another member.
“Our country is an interesting place to visit and very religious as well,” Damrongwiriyanupap said. “TSA is not very religious in that we don’t pray or mediate all together unless going to the Thai temple for holidays and special occasions.”
Wasin Mallikamas has been a member of TSA since 1997 and is graduating in May with a Ph.D. in civil engineering. He said he has watched the organization evolve and grow over the years.
“It’s nice to see old faces as well as new faces here,” Mallikamas said. “We definitely have become more dynamic over the years with members, ranging from engineering to journalism.”
As Buddhists, members of the group say they believe in good and bad instead of in a god. Karma also plays a big role in the Buddhist faith, and is defined through the cycle of cause and effect. The effects of all deeds actively create past, present, and future experiences, thus making one responsible for their own life, and the pain and joy it brings to him or her and others.
“We also believe in nirvana which means we don’t feel anymore, we cease to exist,” Mallikamas said. “Monks reach nirvana and once that happens they are not reborn, like we are. Then instead of having saints to worship, Buddhists pray to the most enlightened that have reached nirvana.”
Buddhism is said by some to be a body of philosophies influenced by the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, known as Gautama Buddha. It is also said to be a set of teachings to guide one to directly experiencing reality.
Mallikamas said the Thai language is from the ancient Indian language. Thailand is now populated with not only Thai people, but also Chinese immigrants, he said.
“Thai people are considered generous, gentile, friendly, helpful and very polite,” Damrongwiriyanupap said. “Americans are more straightforward while we are more passive. But we can learn from each other.”
Members of the TSA say they want other students to know that they are more spiritual than religious and that they focus on being happy and enjoying themselves.
“Buddhism is truly a way of life and lifestyle,” Mallikamas said. “It’s family-oriented and emphasizes being happy and staying away from sadness.”
Contact Campus Press Staff Writer Katelyn Bell at Katelyn.Bell@colorado.edu.
