In recent years, Thailand has become a leading centre of Buddhist learning and has a growing number of nationwide meditation retreats, located in cities, on beaches and in the forests. Meditation is found in some form or another in all major religious traditions, but in Buddhism it is integral to the path to enlightenment.

The practitioner trains his or her mind so that it can understand the four points that form the core of the Buddha’s teachings: suffering, what causes it, the end of suffering, and the path to that end. Consequently, the art of meditation is a highly developed one in Thailand. One doesn’t need to be a Buddhist, or even be interested in Buddhism, to benefit from meditation. A valuable training that can be applied to daily life, it greatly helps concentration and can lead to a state of peace and calmness, no matter where the meditation is performed.

There are two main branches in Buddhist meditation: Samatha (calmness, concentration) and Vipassana (insight), which stresses mindfulness. The techniques of Samatha meditation are many, some of them older than Buddhism itself. Amongst the most commonly practised in Thailand is Anapanasati, or “mindfulness with breathing”. Mantra

meditation, in which given words are repeated over and over to help focus the mind, is also widely practised. Kasinas, where meditators concentrate on an object outside themselves, such as a crystal ball or a candle flame, is yet another form.

Sati, or mindfulness, is the key to Vipassana meditation. When the mind is untrained it is wide open to outside disturbances, and the objective is to be aware of what happens but not dwell upon it. So you train yourself to be aware of the body’s movement, the rise and fall of the chest as you inhale and exhale, the movement of the legs and feet

as you walk, and your feelings and state of mind. Walking, sitting and lying meditation are a few of the Vipassana techniques, and to avoid distractions as far as possible the retreats are usually held in isolated and peaceful surroundings.

Meditation teachings are widely available in Thailand for Thais and visitors alike, ranging from English language day classes in Bangkok through to intensive month-long Vipassana courses at remote retreats in the provinces.

Buddhism has been Thailand's main religion since ancient times and is recognized as the Kingdom's religion and is a 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.

Nowadays, development and technology of the modern world has somehow changed the traditional lifestyle of Thai people, especially in big cities. Despite that, with the deep perception of Buddhism within them, Thai people still adopt Buddhist philosophy of simplicity and moderate to lead their ways, making Thai society much more tolerant and peaceful if compare with those which are suffering the stress from our competitive world today.

If you are interested in learning Buddhism, several universities and Buddhism centres provide a wide range of courses from non-degree to master degree.

• Chiang Mai University offers a course called Thai and Local Culture which includes a lecture on Buddhism by English speaking Buddhist Monk. “The language used on the course is English. All lecturers are proficient speakers of English. On cultural visits to places where there is no English speaker, e.g. visits to handicraft workshops, a bilingual 'guide' accompanies the group. Thus the course offers the opportunity for students to practice their English speaking skills, albeit in a non-native speaking environment.”
  chiangmaihandicrafts.com

• Thammasat University in Bangkok offers both degree and non-degree programs in English. A course called Buddhist Institutions offers instruction for “systematic description and analysis of ecclesiastical institutions (monasteries, temples, sects); lay associations and religious enterprises, their internal structure, their operations, and their functions in society, in particular, the Thai society.”
  interaffairs.tu.ac.th

• For those who would like to become a monk in Thailand either for short or long term period. It is recommended to make a retreat as a layman first. The Wat Pha Nanachat in Ubon Ratchathani province is a forest temple created by Ajaan Sumedo (disciple of famous Ajaan Chah), especially for foreigner who want to practice buddhism and mediation or to enter the monkhood. The Abbot and vice-abbot as all monks are foreigner, so it is easier to communicate if you don't speak Thai. At Wat Pha Nanachat you can register (in advance) and stay there as a layman for different lengths period. You will live and have the same schedules as the monks, but you will be dressed in white. Spending 2-3 weeks there will give you a good idea of what is the life as a monk and to feel if you are ready for that life, even if it is for 3 month. More details and other places:
  dhammathai.org

Useful links

1. thaibuddhism.net
2. thailandlife.com
3. dhammathai.org
4. thaiworldview.com

Learning Buddhism in Thailand

1. Chiang Mai University: chiangmaihandicrafts.com
2. Thammasat University: interaffairs.tu.ac.th
3. Learning on-line: buddhanet.net

As Buddhism is a part of daily life in Thailand, to understand Thai culture is to understand Buddhism and its many roles.

Historical evidence shows that Buddhism gained acceptance in Thailand from the sixteenth Buddhist era century which is from the Chiang Saen, Nan Chao age down to Sukhothai, Ayutthaya, Thonburi, and Rattanakosin. Buddhism has been practiced in Thailand throughout the ages. All Buddhist activities have revolved around the temple.

In family life
When a child is born, the parent will take the child’s birth date to the monk for a prediction and ask for a blessing and a name for a child. When a boy grows up, he usually becomes a Sammanen (young monk) and is educated at the temple because Thai people think that the boy will one day become the head of his family. Every man should spend some time as a monk before he gets married, so that he can learn the dharma and the art of living collectively in a peaceful way. As a Sammanen, a boy will learn to read and write and gain other knowledge as well as the teaching of the lord Buddha. Girls learn household management from their mothers. After finishing his education, a man who wants a family life will leave the monkhood to marry, but those who are really interested in Dharma will continue as monks, studying, and strictly practicing spirituality in an effort to attain salvation. They will also preach the Dharma, as they realize it is the most valuable guide for the whole community.

Monks in Thailand can be divided into two categories:

• The Arannavasi or jungle monks. These are monks who lay heavy emphasis on spiritual practice or internal realization and practice either Samatha (meditation and concentration) or Vipassana (awareness).
• The Gamavasi or the community monks lay their emphasis on studying the Holy Scriptures, practicing a strict discipline, praying and preaching the Buddhist principles to the people. The monks in this group take many examinations to gain several levels of Buddhist knowledge.

The lives of Thai people are always connected to the temple. Thais will always wake up very early morning to prepare food for the monks before they go to work, so that when the monks come for alms gathering, they are prepared.

In the house, there will be a corner, a room, or a shelf for images of the Lord Buddha to remind the people of the teachings of the Lord Buddha. This area will be used to pray or meditate.

Temples
People help to build and renovate temples to make them beautiful. Everyone will help to build the temple and they will try to make it the most beautiful place possible, not only as it is a place of worship but because it is the property of the whole community. Thus, the temple has always been a centre of Thai art and culture throughout the ages.

In the past, the temples functioned as community centres. The Thai way of life through various ages was depicted on the temple’s walls and ceiling. Their drawings told stories, legends, represented scenes from the Buddha’s life or the Thai Ramakiam version of the Ramayana Epic. Some temples even included herbal remedies and treatments; there were also pictures and scriptures of therapeutic exercises such as those performed by yogis or Rishis, so that people could educate themselves whenever they were free. In several temples, there were massage schools, a Thai traditional medical school where herbal treatments were prepared, and a variety of skills training classes.

Thailand has many temples. Their architectural styles vary according to their locations. The northern temples are influenced by Chiang Saen and Lanna Art, the southern temples by the Sri Vijaya art, the eastern ones by the ancient Khmer and the Western ones by the Man Raman and Burmese.

Life can be seen to be depicted through religion in Thailand. In the Sukhothai Era, Thailand was very peaceful, and the sculptures of the Lord Buddha also look peaceful and full of bliss. In the Ayutthaya Era, Thailand was involved in many fights with neighbouring countries, and the sculptures of the Buddha also look peaceful but quite serious. In the Rattanakosin era, Thailand established a relationship with many other nations and their influence was reflected in the many new architectural styles found in the temples.

Thai people always celebrate festivals and ceremonies in the temples; for example, during the water festival (Songkran) people will perform a ceremony called Song Nam Phra during which they pour scented water onto Buddha images for auspiciousness. They will also take sand into the temple compound to be used as construction material for another activity known as “Sand Pagoda Building”. At the times of Visaka Puja, Buddhists perform a candlelight ceremony in the temple at night. At the Khao Phansa and Ok Phansa, they donate money, household materials, robes or uniforms to the monks. People will also try to become better people by giving up smoking or drinking alcohol for 3 months during the Phansa, the rain retreat (Buddhist Lent). Thais also hold many fun fairs in the temples, show films, perform traditional drama, as well as many other activities to maintain harmony in the community, especially in the temples in the villages.

Even though the lifestyle has changed a lot in modern Thailand due to the acceptance of western culture, with the result that people go to the temple less on Buddhist religious days due to their work, nevertheless, the temple will continue to be at the centre of Thai social life for a long, long time.

 

Walking through History
One of the best ways to appreciate the grandeur and significance of Thailand’s history is to absorb the atmosphere of the ruins and monuments of past Thai civilisations.