Page 48 - ELITE PLUS MAGAZINE VOL4

LIFESTYLE‘I do not look at people from an ideological perspective. I do not categorize people in terms of red shirt, yellow shirt, alliances, rivalries, one side versus another’mediation from the influential nun Khun Mai Siri Karinchai. “I learned to meditate quite late in life and should have learned it much earlier. Buddhism might teach you how to think and behave but meditation helps you see the world and life as it is, not as you want it to be.”Meditation has now become part of daily life. She also takes courses and two-month hiatuses to practise dharma and meditation in remote and secluded places.Buddhism inspires her to do good and help people, she said. At one level, her work is volunteerism and activism, but in Buddhist terms, her work gives her an opportunity to make merit.Ms Tuenjai has always taken good care of herself. She practises yoga every day, enjoys being in nature and eats well. “I am very serious about food and make sure that I eat healthily. I eat a lot of organic vegetables and fruits and avoid meat as much as I can.”There is also a light side to her character and she has time to follow personal interests. Entertainment provides one escape. She is a big fan of khon, Thai traditional masked dance, and Western ballet. The Kujara family is known for the arts, with many members becoming writers and visual or performing artists. Despite not being a big spender, Ms Tuenjai is not reluctant to pay over 2,000 baht for tickets to a khon performance.She also loves movies, but avoids Hollywood in favour of independent films, such as Jiro Dreams of Sushi, a documentary about a Michelin-starred sushi shop in Tokyo.“I prefer alternative over main- stream culture,” she said. “Perhaps I have that indie spirit in me.”“I do not look at people from an ideological perspective. I do not categorize people in terms of red shirt, yellow shirt, alliances, rivalries, one side versus another. Perhaps sociology has taught me to listen and respect different opinions.“But I am also a devout practitioner of Buddhism. In the concept of Buddhism, people are like our siblings and relatives in some way. I believe people are alike and those who disagree with us or dislike us are not much different. Aside from their political differences, they endure some of the same problems in life, such as ageing, illness, death and feelings of happiness and sadness.”How does she cope with failure? Despite receiving numerous awards, having a happy family and two lovely children, her dedication to eliminating46 Elite+poverty and improving the quality of life of minorities in Thailand has not borne much fruit.“You cannot always win. In my work, I never set a goal that I must win. All you can do is be very certain that you do things for the right reason and do the best you can. You simply cannot let things get under your skin. I am the kind of person who believes that everything that happens is good.”For a person working with the poor, how can she keep senses of hopelessness and negativity at bay? Buddhism becomes a way to deal with pressure and a source of positive energy in her work, she said. She has been interested in Buddhism since she was young. Her maternal grandmother was a nun who brought her to pray and listen to dharma at the temple. Twenty years ago, she learned