My family oppose me being a politician because they see it as too dangerous. They try to stay away and not get involved. I wish I had more time for them.

Life is more than money. Money used to be a medium of love for me. I always gave money to my parents as an act of love. We loved each other but we didn’t really express our feelings.

I was so sad when my dad passed away. That’s why I quit acting ten years ago, entered the monkhood and changed my name.

My first name means to repay an obligation. That obligation was to my dad. My last name, “Jitissara” (free soul), is meant to remind me that I have to retain a soul that’s free from all anxieties.

I studied Chinese to continue my dad’s dream. He taught me Chinese but I didn’t bother studying hard. I later opened a Chinese language school and lectured about my life and Dharma.

I loved being a teacher. Giving knowledge and bringing out new ideas can broaden your own thoughts. The best teacher is the one who teaches you to think on your own.

Step out from your professional world to be an amateur in another field if you really want to learn about life. I love to drop out and do something else instead of being stable at the peak of one profession.

Teaching inspired me to jump into politics. I was used to expressing my ideas to thousands of students when I was a lecturer. But I thought it would be great if I could spread my ideas to millions of people and turn them into something practical. You’re not reading history, you’re making history.

I chose Don Mueang district by myself. I asked the Democrat Party which district was the most difficult to win and they said there. It’s in my character to accept a seemingly impossible challenge.

Politics is difficult. It’s like you’re a boxing trainer, you can never know what it is really like unless you have fought yourself.
Being a politician helped me get a deeper understanding of Dharma. After studying it for more than a decade, I realize that the more chaos I encounter, the more I find peace within the chaos. You must have a lot of life experience to really understand its teachings.

Be earnest in what you do. You have to love what you do and to keep doing it even if things don’t go the way you expected. This victory was about winning people’s hearts through my actions over a number of years.

People always want to be your friend when you’re successful but you will only see your true friends when you’re in trouble. I have experienced both.

Taming your heart sounds clichéd but it’s really hard to do. During the campaigning and the floods, I had to dig myself out of the bed at 4am and drive to Don Mueang every day. It’s really exhausting.

I considered giving up on politics. I lost 99% of my work as a lecturer and MC after I entered politics so I don’t have a lot of money. I really questioned why I did this. But I convinced myself that if I am worried about this then I won’t have the freedom to truly convey my message.

Being in the midst of extreme hate is horrible. Someone doesn’t even know you yet they’re ready to hurt you.

Forgiveness is the only solution in confronting a political rival like Karun (Hosakul). I can’t avoid him so it’s better to remain calm.

Death threats are something I expect. The latest was on the day I won. Someone called me and said “Congratulations and be prepared to die like your assistant.” My former assistant was shot dead in 2011.

I’m afraid to die but what can I do. Being paranoid doesn’t help. My colleagues try to convince me to get bodyguards but I still go around alone. If I have to die, then I don’t want anyone else to have to get into trouble with me.

Thai laws are never respected. Nepotism is everywhere.
People create corrupt politicians. Many people expect politicians to pay them extra and don’t care where the money comes from. I tell them that I don’t have money and just try to be as honest as possible.

Many people still don’t understand the duty of an MP (representative). They think we can do everything, like order the drains to be cleaned, which, in fact is a municipal job. When I try to explain, they just say they won’t vote for me anymore!

Investing in people by developing their intelligence is more sustainable than building material things. For me, we make too much, but it seems no one ever has enough and always wants more. I call it Greedilization. People don’t even notice their life is actually stuck in an endless loop.

Don’t try to find the meaning of life, making your life meaningful is more important.

I won’t end my life as a politician. I dream of living somewhere isolated where I can be free of everything. I might go teach kids in the mountains.