An Introduction to Thai Buddhism
Buddhism is the main religion of Thailand, and has a huge impact on Thai society even today, with over 94% of Thais being Buddhist. The remainder is a mix of Muslims, Christians and Animists.
Born over 2500 years ago, Buddhism is forever linked with the Indian Prince Siddharta Gautama, the man who became Buddha and was the first to reach enlightenment or Nirvana.
The teachings of Siddharta Gautama are still followed to this day in Thailand. The basic message of his teachings state that people in this world are suffering due to the fact they remain attached to material things, such as men and women, money and power. Much suffering and jealousy is caused by these links, and this becomes pain, meaning that people cannot ever be satisfied with what they have. They always want more power, more money etc.
The basic aim of Buddhism as seen by Thais is that it tries to rid people of these links, and therefore these pains. There are many different kinds of Buddhism in the world today. In Thailand, the predominant branch is called Theravada Buddhism.
The path to enlightenment is for most people, a very long one, yet everyone can be hopeful that they will reach it some day. For most people, it will take many lives and rebirths. Thais believe that when a person or an animal dies, their spirit or soul is reincarnated into another living being. This is known as the Samsara, or the endless cycle of existence. Your rebirth will depend on your Karma, which is a measure of what kind of person you are. A person who has done good deeds in this life will have a better existence next time round. Anyone who has done bad deeds in this life will face a harsher existence next time around.
Buddhism isn’t really a religion. It’s more of a belief system.
Praying to Buddha is really not proper Buddhism. One must achieve ones own enlightenment therefore no praying to any deity is part of the practice of Buddhism.
The attachment to material things is centered in the lowest three chakras and is associated with the kundalini aspect of the energy levels.
When one elevates the kundalini and energy levels above the lowest three then one begins to get closer to the realization of the nature of reality and closer to reaching the energy levels of expanded consciousness which some refer to as enlightenment.
After reading your very informative blog I would say that many people in Thailand really are as far away from practicing Buddhism as they can be.
I would suggest that the many problems that plague Thailand are a direct result of people turning their back on the teachings of Buddha and that they have no clue that they are complete hypocrites.
It’s sad to see Thai society so plagued with demented throwbacks who prey upon people that travel to that country on holiday. The leadership in that country sets a very bad example in their greed and ignorance and they teach the commoners that cheating and theiving is acceptable behavior. All this is very divergent and not in agreement with the practice of Buddhism.
Your article states that over 90% of Thais are Buddhist but I have to disagree. Apparently from your own statements, very, very few people in Thailand have the knowledge of or integrity to be true Buddhist.
Rather than attempt to class Thai as Buddhist do you think, based on your blog statements, that its probably more accurate to state that Thai culture has declined into a type of anarchy where greed and corruption now manifest in various forms of social disarray?
True Buddhists would hide in shame to be associated with the throngs of subhuman that prey upon those outsiders who travel to Thailand these days.
Is that what’s happened? Are the true Buddhists in hiding, having distanced themselves from that culture of depravity?
What a horrible state for that country! From the leadership on down the hierarchy, it seems no one has any capacity to elevate towards enlightenment. They’ve all bought the lie and suffering is the result.
Thailand seems horrible. I would never spend a dime to go there and I would be frightened to stay there. It seems like an earthbound prison! I feel sorry for anyone who thinks of it as a paradise.
It might be a good thing to hope it could change for the better but from the way it’s going it looks like its becoming worse each day.
Good luck to you and yours. Namaste.
Thanks your for input. You are right, Buddhism is not a religion. But it is classified among the biggest religions in the world nonetheless. And because many people do not practice it as it should be does not mean that they are not Buddhists. If you are going to use that reasoning there are not many Christians, Muslims, Hindus or whatever either as most people claiming to be (or being classified as such) do not follow much of their belief system. I for example am baptized (involuntarily as a baby) and because of that is classified as Christian, but I do not believe in God.
And to say that Thailand seems like an “earthbound prison” and in a “horrible state” could only come from someone who has never been here and have no clue about Thailand and its culture. Thailand has real problems with corrupt politicians and is currently in political turmoil, but it is still my paradise on earth and there is nowhere else I would rather be.