Buddihism in Thailand

About an average of 94% Thais are Buddhists, of which the Theravada school of Buddhism is predominant. Based on the followings of Siddhartha Gautama, this religion was established in the 6th century. Buddhism has stuck roots in Thailand since many years now and established itself as the predominant faith in this country.

Thailand is what it is today due to the influence of its faith. The country is also often called "The Land of Yellow Robes" this is because the Buddhist monks with orange robes are among the first things you will notice here.

One can understand the dominance of Buddhism as a religion from the fact that all the Thai kings till date in Thailand have been followers of Buddhism, in fact just barring the precedent of declaring it a Buddhist state, the country's constitution has specified that the King of Thailand must be a Buddhist by faith.

To the Thais Buddhism is not only a faith, it is the predominant factor that governs much of their day to day lifestyle to. Whether it is giving alms in the morning to the monks, celebrating the different important days of Buddhist festivals or imbibing it in the flow of their culture and philosophy, art and literature, ethics and morality, as well as other customs and traditions that govern the country as a whole.

Buddhism is all pervasive in the Thai way of life, be it on occasions like marriages, birthdays, shifting of a house, funerals, buying a new vehicle, opening a new business venture, etc


The roles of the Monks

The Buddhist monks, of Thailand are the forerunners of the Buddhist society in Thailand.
They are expected to teach and lead an exemplary life which is dedicated to the service of mankind and society. It may be note that one ca be temporarily ordained as a monk for learning the Buddhist ways of life, in fact many children are taken in as novices in the temples and "Wats" to work under the guidance of specific monks who ordain them into a particular lifestyle. The monks engage themselves in doctrinal studies of Buddhism as well as the spreading and preservation of the faith. They lead a disciplinary life which is governed by rules or tenants of Buddhism.

A Thai sees a monk as a friend and philosopher who understands the problems of the people and guides them in distress. The monks often preach to the masses or through modes of public address for coping with the various problems of the society. The role of monks in rural districts is even more important, in the absence of able schools and guidance.

The average day in a monks life is full of prayers a simple life style that usually begins with the ritualistic begging on the roads known as 'Tam boon', where people donate food to them which is a sort of good deed of the day.

Those young men in Thailand who have undergone ordination are potentially better marriage material in the Thai society. In Thailand serving a period as a monk is a prerequisite for many positions of leadership especially in the village hierarchy or local governance.

There are of course those who become full fledged monks and take up religion as their life, such people mostly specialize in either scholarship or meditation. Traveling to regional education centers, instructing in "Pali", the language of the scriptures, or even teach in the major monastic universities in and around Thailand.


Rules as a Monk