Theravada Buddhism is the national religion of Thailand, practiced by 90% of its population. Theravada Buddhism, an orthodox Buddhist sect which keeps the original doctrine and tradition succeeded from the Buddha, is adopted by Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Thailand while Mahayana sect is popular in China and Japan. Buddhism originated in the southern Nepal with the teachings of Siddharta Gautama, the founder of Buddhism. He renounced his royal life to find the way to be out of the cycle of life which he considered suffering.
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Ever since the Sukhothai Period, Buddhism has been recognized as the state's religion and significantly fundamental influence of Thai society and culture. Songha or monastic community has played a key role in Thai society since the ancient times. Temple served as an important social unit for it is the center of village; they were both spiritual and educational center. Buddhism is expressed in every aspect of Thai daily life. From birth to death, Buddhism is represented as the ceremonies believed to bring happiness to life. Although the original Buddhist doctrine does not say anything about ceremonies, people have assimilated Buddhism with the primitive animist belief.
http://www.asia-discovery.com/thai_Buddhism.htm
Monks are more suited to reach the enlightenment because they follow a strict way of life far from material attachment. Their life is based on 227 monastic rules and 5 major precepts, i.e. no sex, no lies, no robbery, no alcohol, no killing.
In a temple, some men are monks since decades but there are also some men who are monk only during a short time. They do it in order to bring merit to their parents ("THAM BUN" - ทำบุญ). A boy is not a man until he hasn't been a monk once in his life.
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Vocabulary used when speaking with a monk is not the same as everyday vocabulary. Monks deserve respect. Depending on the age of the monk different words are used when talking to a monk.
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- หลวงพี่ or "LUANG PHI" is used for young monk.
- หลวงพ่อ or "LUANG PHO" is used for middle aged monk.
- หลวงปู่ or "LUANG PU" is used with an old renowned monk.
- หลวงตา or "LUANG TA" ( often a man that did become a monk when he was quite old ) is less respectful that "LUANG PHO".
- หลวงเถระ or "LUANG THERA" is used for a man being a monk for 10 years.
In the morning after the alms round, while laymen or laywomen are preparing food, monks pray in the "BOT" (โบสถ์ - building which contains the main Buddha image). In the hall for sermons ("SALA" - ศาลา) women prepare the monks plates with the food taken from the alms bowls. Often women who do this task are middle aged women. When meals are ready, a woman hit a gong several times. Monks are coming. The novice monks bring the tray to the monks. Faithful people pray and "KRAP" (กราบ - hand palms closed together and the body is lowered to the floor like crouching) three times. Then meal can start. Monks have to eat a little bit of each plate in order that all the people that did offer food receive some "BUN" (บุญ - merit).
The second and last meal has to be eaten before noon. So around 11:30 a.m monks enter the "SALA" and eat the food leftovers of the first meal. Before sitting, monks pray towards the Buddha statues in the "SALA". Monks are older than 20 years old. Novices are young boys. Monks ("PHRA" - พระ) sit together in one corner and novices ("NEN" - เณร) in another corner sit together. Novices pray together towards the Buddha statue and then bring the trays to each monk. Two monks share one tray. Novices have a bigger tray for all of them.
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In Thailand women cannot be monks but nuns. They wear white robes and their head is also shaved. Being a nun is less valued than being a monk. A Thai tradition says that only women who did have a bad love affair become nun ("MAE CHI" - แม่ชี). Those young women want to make a break in their life.
Nuns are quite often seen in Thailand. Everyday they wake up at 4 a.m, meditate, help and prepare the monks meal. Then learn Dharma, Pali language, meditate, and rest. They have one meal per day. Nuns are always under the control of an abbot.
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Two main movements composed Thai Buddhism:
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- Maha Nikaya (มหานิกาย - main movement).
- Dhammayut (ธรรมยุตนิกาย - movement formed in the mid 1800 by the future King Rama IV). Since the destruction of Ayuthaya in 1767 Buddhism was declining. This movement was created because Thai Buddhism was not pure as it should have been and needed reforms. It has also revitalised the main movement.
http://www.thaiworldview.com/bouddha/bouddha.htm
- The Suan Mokh School of Buddhadasa Bhikkhu ("PHUTTHATHAT" in Thai language) stresses rationalism in core Buddhist teachings as opposed to animist believes often found in popular Buddhism. For example blessing cars, motorcycles, trees, washing machines and even Thai Airways planes blessed by the Suprem Patriarch. Actually monks do what lay people expect from them. Buddhadasa Bikkhu thinks this is not the right way, monks are here to teach Dharma to lay people. Even if animism gives a colourful Buddhism, animism beliefs should not force monks to do things that are incompatible with Buddhism.
- The Forest Monks school, stresses a reclusive, meditative life.
- The cult-like Huppa Sawan focuses on mysticism.
- The fundamentalist Santi Asoke emphasizes self-sufficiency and anti-consumerism.
- Dhammakaya movement incorporates consumer values with popular Buddhism. Dhammakaya movement main temple is located at Pathum Pani. In year 1999 it has been accused to act like a sect, to have distorted and to have commercialised Buddhism. Phra Dhammachayo was removed as the abbot of Wat Dhammakaya following police inquiries into his alleged role in the embezzlement of over 90 million baht in temple funds.