|
A
person with a beautiful heart possesses
the qualities of a kind-hearted or good-hearted
person. This type of person has good virtue,
and has a heart that is totally void of
malice toward others. These are formal
expressions and not frequently used in
the vernacular.
Merit-minded
Heart
jai
bun (adj.) 㨺Ø
jai
bun sun thaan (adj.) 㨺ØÊع·Ò¹
“Merit-minded
heart” applies to the kind of person
who rises at the crack of dawn to make
offerings of food to monks. Or when a
jai bun person sees someone in distress
or in need, he or she will try to give
assistance and comfort. The jai
phrase is traced to the Buddhist belief
that if you make merit, tham bun, in this
life, you will be born to a better life
next time around. If you give money to
a child beggar or feed the soi dogs, then
many Thais might think you are jai
bun. Someone is dying in hospital
because they can’t get a blood match,
and you volunteer to donate your blood.
By such actions, you are making merit.
This expression is an illustration of
the relationship between Buddhism and
the heart in a phrase that is intended
as a high compliment. Jai
bun sun thaan is another expression
of the same meaning but carries the dimension
of the class system. The word thaan in
the phrase means giving. Those who give
to others in a lower station of life (as
the British were fond of saying) have
jai
bun sun thaan—a heart prone
to giving.
|
Sample jai
phrases from hearttalk
Learn more