Buddhism in Thailand

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Buddhism in Thailand

• Presented by YCEP Group at
• Wat Buddhavas Temple

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What is Buddhism?

• The name Buddhism comes from the word 'budhi'
  which means 'to wake up' and thus Buddhism is the
  philosophy of awakening.
• This philosophy has its origins in the experience
  of the man Siddhartha Gotama, known as the
  Buddha, who was himself awakened at the age of
  35.
• Buddhism is now 2,500 years old and has about 300
  million followers worldwide.
• Until a hundred years ago Buddhism was mainly an
  Asian philosophy but increasingly it is gaining
  adherents in Europe, Australia and America.

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The Life of the Buddha

• In the year 563 B.C. a baby was born into a royal
  family in northern India.
• He grew up in wealth and luxury but eventually
  found that worldly comforts and security do not
  guarantee happiness.
• He was deeply moved by the suffering he saw all
  around and resolved to find the key to human
  happiness.

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The Life of the Buddha

• When he was 29 he left his wife and child and set
  off to sit at the feet of the great religious
  teachers of the day to learn from them.
• They taught him much but none really knew the
  cause of human suffering and how it could be
  overcome.
• Eventually, after six years study and meditation
  he had an experience in which all ignorance fell
  away and he suddenly understood.

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The Life of the Buddha

• From that day onwards, he was called the Buddha,
  the Awakened One.
• He lived for another 45 years in which time he
  travelled all over the northern India teaching
  others what he had discovered.
• His compassion and patience were legendary and he
  had thousands of followers.
• In his eightieth year, old and sick, but still
  happy and at peace, he finally died.

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The Main Teachings of the Buddha

• All of the many teachings of the Buddha center on
  the Four Noble Truths, just as the rim and spokes
  of a wheel centers on the hub.
• They are called 'Four' because there are four of
  them.
• They are called 'Noble' because they ennoble one
  who understands them.
• They are called 'Truths' because, corresponding
  with reality, they are true.

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The Four Noble Truths

• The First Noble Truth is that life is suffering.
  To live, you must suffer.
• The Second Noble Truth is that all suffering is
  caused by craving. When we look at psychological
  suffering, it is easy to see how it is caused by
  craving.
• The Third Noble Truth is that suffering can be
  overcome and happiness attained.
• The Fourth Noble Truth is the Path leading to the
  overcoming of suffering. This path is called the
  Noble Eightfold Path.

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The Noble Eightfold Path

• Perfect Understanding
• Perfect Thought
• Perfect Speech
• Perfect Action
• Perfect Livelihood
• Perfect Effort
• Perfect Mindfulness
• Perfect Concentration

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The Noble Eightfold Path

• The Buddhist practice consists of practicing
  these eight things until they become more
  complete.
• The steps on the Noble Eightfold Path cover every
  aspect of life the intellectual, the ethical and
  economic and the psychological and therefore
  contains everything a person needs to lead a good
  life and to develop spiritually.

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Buddhism in Thailand

• 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.

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Thai Buddhism Beliefs

• The Theravada school of Buddhism is based more
  purely on the teachings of Gotama Siddartha
  (Buddha) without the refinements added on by
  later monks.
• 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 nirvana.
• To this end they make merit by doing good
  deeds.

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Common Ways to Make Merit

• Giving money to beggars
• Releasing caged birds
• 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.

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Buddhist Monks

• Buddhist monks must be treated with respect.
• Monks cannot touch or be touched by females, or
  accept anything form the hand of a woman.
• Rear seats in buses are reserved for monks other
  passengers should vacate these seats when
  necessary.
• Never stand over a seated monk since they should
  always remain at the highest elevations.
• The services of monks are requested for every
  occasion.
• For example, 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.

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Buddhist Temples in Thailand

• In Thailand, a temple is much more than a place
  to worship.
• The wat is the center of village life, serving as
  a school, orphanage, theatre, meeting hall,
  crematorium, youth club, playground - even
  sometimes a market, political center or
  restaurant.
• Although ones behavior must always be correct
  and polite in a temple, there is no feeling of
  remoteness or superiority.
• It is a repository for all aspects of the life
  and spirit, as well as the spirituality of the
  community it serves.

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