|
The Thais are a deeply religious people. For the Buddhist majority it underlies all activities and is the backbone of the Thai culture - a culture that has survived intact and independent for so long largely because of the principles of the Buddhist faith.
Ninety percent of the population are Theravada Buddhists. The Theravada school of Buddhism is based more purely on the teachings of Gotama Siddartha (Buddha) without the refinements added on by later monks. Buddhist believe that existence is suffering, suffering is caused by desire, so the elimination of desire leads to a state of perfect non- suffering and non-existence called nibbana (nirvana).
It is non-individualistic philosophy which preaches that the suppression and eventual extinction of the ego are the only way to be content. Almost all Thais believe in reincarnation., hopefully to a higher form of life, leading ultimately to the achievement of nibbana. To this end they “make merit” by doing good deeds. Ways to make merit include giving money to beggars, releasing caged birds and giving food to monks who do their early morning “alms round”. Most males will do a spell (although generally only a few weeks) as novices in a temple. This brings merit to the family, and is expected of all boys once they reach the age of eighteen. Within the temple, they will be trained in Buddhist history and philosophy, the paths to enlightenment and the principles of meditation.
There are two sects of Buddhist monks in Thailand, the orange robed Mahanikai and the stricter, more academic red-brown robed Thammayut who can eat only one meal a day (before noon), provided for them by those who wish to make merit. They cannot touch money.
The services of monks are requested for every occasion. New houses or cars should be blessed to bring good luck. Nine monks are required for a marriage, and three days of chanting ‘mantras’ by a group of monks is normal at a funeral.
Underlying Buddhism in Northern Thailand is animism - a belief that all things, such as trees, stones and rivers, have living souls. “Spirit houses” outside all building in Thailand are made attractive to any possibly harmful spirit so that it will not “haunt” the humans living nearby. Buddhism has managed to mould itself onto Animism in Thailand, producing an unusual blend of moral philosophy and superstition. Some of the Chinese and Shan of Northern Thailand are Muslim. There are several mosques in a number of cities, and the town of Doi Mae Salong (Santikiree) in the far north, settled by Chinese, has a Muslim majority.
Christianity, introduced recently by missionaries, has gained many converts in the hill tribes. Up to 30% of Karen claim to be Christians, with many Lisu and Kachin people having converted as well, moreso in Burma than Thailand however. Most hill tribe people, though, are animists, with some converts to Buddhism and Christianity. Many Yao people, who originated in Southern China, are Taoist, practising a primitive form of Taoism which was known in China 600 years ago. |
