April 23, 2008
Khmer Behavior
Every culture trains its children to become good members of society in order to insure harmony, peace, and stability. Cambodian parents teach their children how to sleep, walk, stand, sit, and speak. For the parents, the values below capture the essence of a well-mannered Cambodian.
How to Sleep
-You must wake up before sunrise or you are lazy.
-Sleeping places in the home are determined according to status. (Cambodian families often live in one or two rooms, and everyone sleeps on the same bed, a large slatted wooden platform about eight- or ten-feet square. The parents sleep at the "head" end and the youngest children sleep at the "foot.")
-You must wake up before sunrise or you are lazy.
-Sleeping places in the home are determined according to status. (Cambodian families often live in one or two rooms, and everyone sleeps on the same bed, a large slatted wooden platform about eight- or ten-feet square. The parents sleep at the "head" end and the youngest children sleep at the "foot.")
How to Walk
-Tell people where you are going and when you are coming back. (This is important to show respect to others and to keep them from being embarrassed if someone asks and they don't know where you are.)
-If someone of higher status is passing you, bend lower (from the waist) than that person.
-Don't make sounds with your skirt when you walk.
-Don't wear shoes or hats when you enter a house or temple.
-Close doors softly when you go through them.
-When you meet someone on the street, ask where they are going.
-Tell people where you are going and when you are coming back. (This is important to show respect to others and to keep them from being embarrassed if someone asks and they don't know where you are.)
-If someone of higher status is passing you, bend lower (from the waist) than that person.
-Don't make sounds with your skirt when you walk.
-Don't wear shoes or hats when you enter a house or temple.
-Close doors softly when you go through them.
-When you meet someone on the street, ask where they are going.
How to Stand
-Stand with your arms crossed at the waist. (Arms at the side means you are signaling that you are strong. Hands on the hips or arms behind your back or across the chest means you are rich, powerful, threatening, or disrespectful of other people.)
-Stand with your arms crossed at the waist. (Arms at the side means you are signaling that you are strong. Hands on the hips or arms behind your back or across the chest means you are rich, powerful, threatening, or disrespectful of other people.)
How to Sit
-Sit with your legs straight down. (Crossing legs shows disrespect.)
-Never put your feet on a table or show the soles of your feet to others.
-Men can sit on the floor in the lotus position while eating.
-Women must sit on the floor with legs aside.
-Never put your feet on a table or show the soles of your feet to others.
-Men can sit on the floor in the lotus position while eating.
-Women must sit on the floor with legs aside.
How to Speak
-You must speak softly and gently.
-Show feelings only at home.
-Children have no right to speak unless spoken to.
-A guest is polite and doesn't talk unless spoken to.
-Let others talk more than you.
-There should be limited talking at meals. Speak only if spoken to.
-If you speak with anger or emotion or express feelings, you will not be respected. You are behaving like an immature and uneducated child.
-Patience is a virtue. (Parents make a comparison between a gasoline fire which ignites quickly and burns to nothing, and a charcoal fire which is difficult to start but cannot easily be extinguished and becomes more intense.)
-Do not make aggressive movements or gestures--such as making a fist, pounding the table, or throwing something--while speaking.
-Moderated feelings are best, i.e., those that are neither very happy or very angry or sad.
-Giving criticism or discussing an individual's problems must not be done in public. (That person will lose face, want revenge, and will be unable to accept your idea.) If you must give criticism, do so in private and indirectly. Talk around the issue, ask for information about the issue, and then let the individual reach her own conclusion in her own time and way.
-You must speak softly and gently.
-Show feelings only at home.
-Children have no right to speak unless spoken to.
-A guest is polite and doesn't talk unless spoken to.
-Let others talk more than you.
-There should be limited talking at meals. Speak only if spoken to.
-If you speak with anger or emotion or express feelings, you will not be respected. You are behaving like an immature and uneducated child.
-Patience is a virtue. (Parents make a comparison between a gasoline fire which ignites quickly and burns to nothing, and a charcoal fire which is difficult to start but cannot easily be extinguished and becomes more intense.)
-Do not make aggressive movements or gestures--such as making a fist, pounding the table, or throwing something--while speaking.
-Moderated feelings are best, i.e., those that are neither very happy or very angry or sad.
-Giving criticism or discussing an individual's problems must not be done in public. (That person will lose face, want revenge, and will be unable to accept your idea.) If you must give criticism, do so in private and indirectly. Talk around the issue, ask for information about the issue, and then let the individual reach her own conclusion in her own time and way.
How to Eat
-Men can eat a lot but must not eat fast.
-Women can eat only a small amount.
-Take food only when asked or directed to.
-Use the communal spoon. Not using it indicates you are insincere or not part of the group.
-People of high rank do not expect to have to get their own food (especially at a buffet). They are often seated in a private or special place and served by others to show status and respect.
-All guests must be served water or another drink even if they come for only a short visit. Give a drink rather than ask what they want which is impolite. If asked, they are obligated to choose the least expensive drink.
-If guests come during a meal, they must be invited to eat.
-Women can eat only a small amount.
-Take food only when asked or directed to.
-Use the communal spoon. Not using it indicates you are insincere or not part of the group.
-People of high rank do not expect to have to get their own food (especially at a buffet). They are often seated in a private or special place and served by others to show status and respect.
-All guests must be served water or another drink even if they come for only a short visit. Give a drink rather than ask what they want which is impolite. If asked, they are obligated to choose the least expensive drink.
-If guests come during a meal, they must be invited to eat.
How to Greet
-Offer a traditional greeting with hands in front of face, palms together, in prayer-like fashion.
-Men can shake hands with men.
-Men should not shake hands with Khmer women unless they offer their hand.
-Men should not hug, kiss, or touch the body of a Khmer woman while greeting her. (She will lose respect and feel embarrassed.)
-Men should not look women directly in the eye. (They may become confused, feel uncomfortable, nervous, shy, and not respected.)
-Men should not give "strong" visual attention to other men.
-Offer a traditional greeting with hands in front of face, palms together, in prayer-like fashion.
-Men can shake hands with men.
-Men should not shake hands with Khmer women unless they offer their hand.
-Men should not hug, kiss, or touch the body of a Khmer woman while greeting her. (She will lose respect and feel embarrassed.)
-Men should not look women directly in the eye. (They may become confused, feel uncomfortable, nervous, shy, and not respected.)
-Men should not give "strong" visual attention to other men.
April 22, 2008
Khmer Short Story:12- The Blackbird And The Monkey
There were two blackbirds, male and female who set up their nest on a tree. Mean whole it was raining; a homeless monkey who was stricken with cold came to stay under the blackbird’s tree. When the blackbirds saw him terribly shivering, one counseled him “Oh, Brother Monkey, you have two hands and two legs as a man does. Why don’t you build home for you dwelling?”
The monkey said “I have two hands and two legs as a man does. Thus I am a nestles animal. The truth is I cannot do it” The blackbird said again “You do not need knowledge to build your nest. You see the birds have only one beak and they can build the nest which they need for their protection from the cold and the rain. You had better think it over. Am I right or not? All the animals in the world have their own dwelling to protect their babies and their mates from suffering. If you cannot build a good nest, you just put branches one on another and you cover it with leaves for your own nest for a while. You do not depend on another dwelling or on a branch or on a tree. It is very difficult for you mate and your young ones. Monkey you have two hands and two legs, I think you can do it. Please do it, do not wait for your knowledge to help you.
All the animals have only strength will work in their own way. They never work like the human beings. You see even the worm, the locust and the termite which are very small, but they have their own habitations, and you, why can’t you do it?
Other animals have no more knowledge than you, but they are able to build habitations of their own.
You said that you cannot do it because you do not want to do it, and you are lazy animal”
When the monkey heard the blackbird criticize him, he became very angry, because he was ashamed before the blackbirds, and then he swung straight to the blackbird’s nest and dropped it down.
DO NOT GIVE COUNSEL THOSE WHO DO NOT WANT TO LISTEN
Choucroute Garni Recipe
Ingriedients:
4 pounds refrigerated sauerkraut, well rinsed and drained
1/2 pound bacon, diced
2 large onions, peeled and coarsely chopped
3 carrots, pared and sliced
1/2 cup chopped parsley
2 bay leaves
10 juniper berries
4 whole cloves
3 cups fruity white wine (Riesling or Mosel)
4 cups chicken broth
1 pound boneless pork loin, cubed
1/2 pound ham, cubed
1 pound smoked sausage, sliced
1 pound bratwurst, sliced
2 tart green apples, cored and coarsely chopped
METHOD:
1-In a large Dutch oven, or kettle with lid, slowly cook bacon with carrots
and onion over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for 8 to 10 minutes.
2-Place parsley, bay leaves, peppercorns, juniper berries and cloves in cheesecloth
bag or large tea strainer. Add to pot with sauerkraut, wine and broth.
Bring to a boil, cover and simmer for 1 hour.
3-Add pork loin, ham, sausage, and bratwurst. Simmer for another hour.
4-Add apples and simmer for a further 20 minutes.
5-Serve immediately or refrigerate overnight and reheat.
April 17, 2008
Yoga for Healthy III
-Bharamari Pranayama: Bharamari has calming effect on mind, brain and nervous system. This pranayama should be done with the thought that your individual consciousness merges with the divine cosmic consciousness.
-Anulom n Viloma Pranayama: Prana breathed in through left nostril represents energy of the moon, which symbolizes peace, and has a cooling effect.
-Bahya Pranayama: Baha Pranayama exerts pressure on all the organs of the abdominal cavity and cause mild pain in this area's weak or diseased parts. For improving the health of these organs this Pranayama is very effective and it should be done using all the three Bandhas.
-Kapala-bhati Pranayama: In Kapala-bhati, the Puraka is to be done with normal, usual force but the Recak has to be done with as much of force as is at your command. In doing so, the abdominal area, also makes inward and outward movements and considerable force is applied to the Manipura, Swadhisthana and Muladhara Chakra. This Pranayama should easily be done for 5 minutes. Persons suffering from acute and chronic diseases must practice if it for 15 minutes or more as per the capability.
-Bhasrika Pranayama: Bhasrika Pranayama is revitalizing Pranayama, which increases oxygen levels and reduces carbon dioxide levels in the blood. In bhasrika Pranayama, the abdominal muscles and diaphragm are used which puts pressure on the internal organs. This Pranayama should be done for 5-10 minutes.
April 16, 2008
April 9, 2008
Yoga for Healthy II
-Mandukasan 2 : This is another way of doing Mandukasan.
-Mandukasan 1: It activates the pancreas and secretion of juices from pancreas is increased. As such it is very beneficial in diabetes. It is useful for heart diseases and disorders of abdomen also.
-Udgeetha Pranayama: After performance of the Pranayamas mentioned earlier, concentrate your mind on the respiration and meditate. Your mind will develop a feeling of concentration. April 8, 2008
Khmer Folk Tale : 11-The Polecat and the Rooster
Once there was a hungry polecat who decided to leave the forest to find food in a nearby village. He soundlessly padded his slender body through the fields, carefully sniffing the air for the smell of food. Through the evening darkness, he soon caught a delicious whiff of some tasty bird. The polecat looked up and there, perched upon a limb of a tree, sat a rooster sleeping with his head tucked into his ruffled feathers.
Now, the polecat wanted to eat the rooster, but he could not climb the tree. So he decided to try to trick the rooster into coming down. The polecat crouched his body close to the tree trunk and gently called up to the rooster. “Hey, dear friend, wake up! I bring you a special message from our Supreme Lord. Our Lord says that from now on, all animals who have hated each other must become friends and never fight again. We must all live happily together in peace and harmony. So let us both begin our friendship now. Come down from your perch so that you and I can embrace each other just like peaceful, loving brothers.”
When the rooster heard the polecat’s voice, he woke up quickly. He looked sharply down upon his cunning old enemy whose slinky body crouched against the tree trunk. Now, the rooster had always been a sensible bird, and he just did not trust that old polecat. He thought a while and then he slowly replied, “My dear brother Polecat, your message from our Lord is very beautiful, Yes, we should love each other and live in peace and friendship. I want to come down and make peace with you, but could you wait a few minutes, please? My friend, the dog, lives together with me here. He went out to the forest to find some food. Let us wait for him to return. Then I will come down from the tree and three of us can celebrate our new friendship together.”
Then the rooster stretched his body and opened his wings. He turned to the north and called loudly into the forest, “Hello-o, dear Dog, hello-o! Come home now! Our friend the polecat is waiting for you here!”
When there was no answer from the forest, the rooster called still more loudly, “Hello, Dog! Can you hear me? Please come right now. Our friend the polecat is waiting”
The wary polecat thought he heard the dog coming. He was fearful because the dog was his old enemy. So he began to slip his soft body away form the tree.
The rooster pouted. “Oh, dear Polecat, don’t go,” he said. “Please wait. Our friend the dog will be here soon.”
But the polecat fidgeted and cringed. “No, I cannot wait any longer. I must bring the message of the Supreme Lord to all the other animals”
And with that, the polecat scurried back into the forest. The rooster watched him go and then, settling his feathers, went back to sleep again.
In Buddhist traditions, people were often reborn as animals. Therefore, animals often talked and behaved just like ordinary people. Cambodian Buddhist monks used this story as an example of how clever reasoning can outwit scoundrels.
April 7, 2008
Traditional Dress
Cambodian woman dress for joining wedding or
high class party.
Suitable for morning( pi ty hè jum noun)
and evening party.
April 6, 2008
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