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  1. #1
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    Buddhism in Thailand

    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.
    ...
    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.
    ...
    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.
    • 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.



    ...
    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.


    ...

    Two main movements composed Thai Buddhism:
    • 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.
    ...
    1. 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.
    2. The Forest Monks school, stresses a reclusive, meditative life.
    3. The cult-like Huppa Sawan focuses on mysticism.
    4. The fundamentalist Santi Asoke emphasizes self-sufficiency and anti-consumerism.
    5. 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.
    http://www.thaiworldview.com/bouddha/bouddha.htm

  2. #2
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    The Four Noble Truths The Four Noble Truths comprise the essence of Buddha's teachings, though they leave much left unexplained. They are the truth of suffering, the truth of the cause of suffering, the truth of the end of suffering, and the truth of the path that leads to the end of suffering. More simply put, suffering exists; it has a cause; it has an end; and it has a cause to bring about its end. The notion of suffering is not intended to convey a negative world view, but rather, a pragmatic perspective that deals with the world as it is, and attempts to rectify it. The concept of pleasure is not denied, but acknowledged as fleeting. Pursuit of pleasure can only continue what is ultimately an unquenchable thirst. The same logic belies an understanding of happiness. In the end, only aging, sickness, and death are certain and unavoidable.
    The Four Noble Truths are a contingency plan for dealing with the suffering humanity faces -- suffering of a physical kind, or of a mental nature. The First Truth identifies the presence of suffering. The Second Truth, on the other hand, seeks to determine the cause of suffering. In Buddhism, desire and ignorance lie at the root of suffering. By desire, Buddhists refer to craving pleasure, material goods, and immortality, all of which are wants that can never be satisfied. As a result, desiring them can only bring suffering. Ignorance, in comparison, relates to not seeing the world as it actually is. Without the capacity for mental concentration and insight, Buddhism explains, one's mind is left undeveloped, unable to grasp the true nature of things. Vices, such as greed, envy, hatred and anger, derive from this ignorance.
    The Third Noble Truth, the truth of the end of suffering, has dual meaning, suggesting either the end of suffering in this life, on earth, or in the spiritual life, through achieving Nirvana. When one has achieved Nirvana, which is a transcendent state free from suffering and our worldly cycle of birth and rebirth, spiritual enlightenment has been reached. The Fourth Noble truth charts the method for attaining the end of suffering, known to Buddhists as the Noble Eightfold Path. The steps of the Noble Eightfold Path are Right Understanding, Right Thought, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness and Right Concentration. Moreover, there are three themes into which the Path is divided: good moral conduct (Understanding, Thought, Speech); meditation and mental development (Action, Livelihood, Effort), and wisdom or insight (Mindfulness and Concentration).




    Karma Contrary to what is accepted in contemporary society, the Buddhist interpretation of karma does not refer to preordained fate. Karma refers to good or bad actions a person takes during her lifetime. Good actions, which involve either the absence of bad actions, or actual positive acts, such as generosity, righteousness, and meditation, bring about happiness in the long run. Bad actions, such as lying, stealing or killing, bring about unhappiness in the long run. The weight that actions carry is determined by five conditions: frequent, repetitive action; determined, intentional action; action performed without regret; action against extraordinary persons; and action toward those who have helped one in the past. Finally, there is also neutral karma, which derives from acts such as breathing, eating or sleeping. Neutral karma has no benefits or costs.




    The Cycle of Rebirth Karma plays out in the Buddhism cycle of rebirth. There are six separate planes into which any living being can be reborn -- three fortunate realms, and three unfortunate realms. Those with favorable, positive karma are reborn into one of the fortunate realms: the realm of demigods, the realm of gods, and the realm of men. While the demigods and gods enjoy gratification unknown to men, they also suffer unceasing jealousy and envy. The realm of man is considered the highest realm of rebirth. Humanity lacks some of the extravagances of the demigods and gods, but is also free from their relentless conflict. Similarly, while inhabitants of the three unfortunate realms -- of animals, ghosts and hell -- suffer untold suffering, the suffering of the realm of man is far less.
    The realm of man also offers one other aspect lacking in the other five planes, an opportunity to achieve enlightenment, or Nirvana. Given the sheer number of living things, to be born human is to Buddhists a precious chance at spiritual bliss, a rarity that one should not forsake.

    http://www.pbs.org/edens/thailand/buddhism.htm

  3. #3
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    I always feel that Thais are more animist than buddhist. The buddhist part for show, but the animist part is the subconcious part that they follow without thinking. A bit like the Korean christians who are more confuscian in the way they go about their lives.

  4. #4
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    Totally, most of the rituals are remanants of animism and hinduism (like the spirit house offerings). Most I know aren't aware of the four noble truths, eightfold path, or triple gems.

    Theravada is more orthadox, but only the very educated Thais are aware of it. Also there is the cultural pride of not wanting to admit what comes from India and the former Khmer Empire. I've met Thais that think Buddha was born in Lumbini Park in Bangkok, not Nepal!!

    To the vast majority it is little more than a series of good luck rituals. The local temple used to blast on the speakers in Thai "Make merit here and you'll win the lottery, get a rich husband, make money in business, have a baby boy or whatever you want!!" No shit. Does that sound like thy've grasped the nolble truth about craving pleasure and material goods being a root cause of suffering to you??

    Anyone can take the orange robe, including addicts, gamblers, criminals and others. No training necessary (unless you're going for the 9th level monks), hence a lot of temple scandals just like the churches back in the west.

    Organised religion eh??

    I came here as a comparative religion student in the late 90s and had idolised Buddhism from the West.

    I was sorely disappointed.

  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by Covertjay
    I've met Thais that think Buddha was born in Lumbini Park in Bangkok, not Nepal!!
    Luckily for me, Jesus was an Englishman.
    Last edited by Marmite the Dog; 04-07-2006 at 01:00 PM.

  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by Marmite the Dog
    Quote Originally Posted by Covertjay
    I've met Thais that think Buddha was born in Lumbini Park in Bangkok, not Nepal!!
    Luckily for me, Jesus was an Englishman.
    it may be true. anyway he cant be australian. he didnt wear socks with his sandals.

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