Memories of a bright, devout Buddhist woman are still vivid in the mind of Thiwakorn Horsaengchai, whose daughter's promising future was cut short by a fatal car accident in Ayutthaya last Sunday.
The charred debris of a Ford Fiesta that was engulfed in flames after a Mercedes-Benz smashed into it on Sunday. (Chanat Katanyu) Victims Thanthaphat Horsaengchai and Kritsana Thaworn (inset)
Thanthaphat "Benz" Horsaengchai, 34, lost her life along with her friend, Kritsana Thaworn, both pursuing master's degrees at Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University's Faculty of Buddhism, after a Mercedes-Benz rammed into the rear of their vehicle on Phahon Yothin Road.
"She had a warm heart from a young age," Mr Thiwakorn said about his daughter, recalling one incident when his daughter, who was just a child at the time, pulled his shirt to ask for coins for a beggar.
He said he was stunned by his daughter's generosity at such a young age.
Mr Thiwakorn said he always instilled dhamma practices into his daughter by teaching her to pray and meditate. She strictly upheld the five precepts of Buddhism, a core ethical code in the religion.
He said his daughter had a lot of older friends as she was mature for her age.
She had a bachelor's degree in marketing from Assumption University. In her time there she was chosen to lead other students in a wai khru ceremony, an event to show respect to teachers.
After graduating, she was one of 30 candidates worldwide admitted to a master's programme in leadership and management at a university in Sweden, where she spent one year finishing the degree.
She wrote of her experiences in Sweden while studying there. Her father intends to print and distribute her writing during her funeral rites.
The copy will be beneficial to those who want to study abroad as they will gain knowledge of how to adapt to new cultures, Mr Thiwakorn said.
Mr Thiwakorn said his daughter preferred socialising with seniors as she enjoyed talking about their experiences.
He later pushed for her to secure a job at the parliament as an adviser to the House of Representatives' Committee on Monetary, Finance, Banking and Financial Institutions.
He said his daughter's life had never been far from dhamma practices. She was committed to making merit, praying and mediating.
Her devotion led her to pursue a master's degree in Buddhism at Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University.
During her oral examination, examiners asked why she decided to study Buddhism since she already held a master's degree.
Mr Thiwakorn said his daughter replied that she favoured practicing dhamma and wanted to dedicate her life to Buddhism.
Thanthaphat contributed a lot to Buddhism-related activities at the university and her monk lecturer suggested she pursue a doctorate instead of a master's.
She died about a week before she was due to join a university trip to observe Buddhist practices in India.
"I cannot find words to describe the preciousness of my daughter," said Mr Thiwakorn. "It is beyond description."
He said his was feeling better now after learning from dhamma that birth, old age, illness and death are inescapable.
Mr Thiwakorn said he would let the judicial process take its course.
The person who hurt Thanthaphat should consider how he can provide assistance, he said.
He said the person must seek answers on their own and that he had not been contacted by the person's relatives.
"Justice must be upheld in our society," Mr Thiwakorn said. "Society can be in peace if we uphold laws and regulations."
"As we are a Buddhist country, we believe in the Buddha's teaching of the law of karma. People will face the consequences of what they do."
