Making merit

George offers flowers to the monk.

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Monk: Blessed be your family.

George: They are the best orchids.

Monk: They are nice orchids.

George: I grew them myself.

Monk: That is creditable. But money would be...

George: Are orchids an unworthy offering?

Monk: Orchids cannot be eaten and these cannot be sold. I am sorry, there is no merit in decoration.

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Voiceover

For Thais, making merit is summarized as, “if you do good you will receive good; if you do evil you will receive evil.” George doesn’t quite understand that what would be more appropriate would be alms or food, the monk seems a little more direct in his explanation than most. His double negative “cannot be eaten” and “cannot be sold” capture the dilemma neatly, but when he says, “I am sorry” it is more of a rejection of George’s offering than an apology.

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