1.1. Buddhism as lived and cherished by the Thai people

In former days, when Thai men were young, they served as temple boys^[1] in the monasteries and were given instruction in reading, writing and simple arithmetic as well as in religion and morals. Through traditional ordination, which is still observed today, they are bound to the Order by ties of experience or close relationship with the monks who are their former sons, relatives or friends. At least they live in the Buddhist environment in which they are linked with the religion by ties of custom, by attending religious rites, ceremonies and temple festivals, or by benefiting, either directly or indirectly, from some activities and spiritual influence of religious institutions. Buddhism is their national heritage, the glory of their country, which they feel bound to preserve. Even those who are Buddhist merely by name benefit from, and are influenced by Buddhism in one way or another. Their cycle of life turns around activities directly or indirectly connected with Buddhism.

Devotee Buddhists may give food offerings regularly in the morning, send money contributions to their neighborhood monasteries, or contribute to some meritorious causes such as building an Uposatha hall elsewhere. Thai calendars usually show a special day of every week, which is known as Wan Phra, or Buddhist holy day, when the pious are often especially active in their merit making. They may take food offering to the monasteries or go for hearing special sermons and observe additional precepts there. There are also Buddhist discussions or sermons on the radio, which they can listen to, and Buddhist programs on television to watch on such days.

Some larger monasteries hold special programs on Saturdays and Sundays, the official holidays of the week, so that working people may be able to benefit from their service. Many boys and girls attend classes at Buddhist Sunday schools, which are conducted in monasteries both in Bangkok and in the provinces.

The first of the Buddhist Sunday schools was founded at Mahachula Buddhist University in 1958 (B.E. 2501). The number of Buddhist Sunday schools has increased rapidly during the last two decades, and 297 have been founded up to the present time.

Popular Buddhism is sometimes much different from the Buddhist of the intellectuals. For a large part of the people, the religion may mean keeping some basic moral rules, observance of rituals and participation in religious ceremonies and worship. But, for some high-educated adherents, Buddhism offers a unique system of psychology and philosophy. They are proud of that Buddhism is the most scientific of all religious. Many people are interested in meditation. Famous meditation centers can be found both in Bangkok and in far provinces such as Nakorn Sridhamaaraj, Suratthani Cholpuri, who engage in the practice at these places are both monks and layman, both men and women, both Thais and foreigners. For these people Buddhism a way of life and a means of finding inner peace.

In Bangkok, there are two Buddhist Universities founded by King Chulalongkorn for the higher education of Buddhist monks. One is Mahachulalongkorn Buddhist University, which has a total enrollment of 1678. The other is Mahamakut Buddhist University with an enrollment of 246^[2]. The two Buddhist universities provide their students with modern educational programs and are active in encouraging Buddhist Sunday school movements, religious propagation, rural social welfare and community development programs, and in upgrading the education of provincial monks.

Lay Buddhist have also organized themselves into Buddhist Associations and Young Buddhist Associations. The Buddhist Association of Thailand was founded in 1934 (B.E.2477) with the aims of encouraging the study and practice of Buddhism, of propagating the Buddha’s teachings and of promoting and assisting in meritorious activities, social welfare work and public service.

In 1950 (B.E. 2493) the Young Buddhist Association of Thailand was founded to achieve similar objectives with emphasis on Buddhist activities among young people. In 1970 (B.E.2513) there were 73 provincial Buddhist Associations affiliated with the Buddhist association of Thailand in Bangkok, while the Young Buddhist Association (YBA) numbered 54 (1984), one in Bangkok and 43 in provinces^[3]. There is still another pride of the Thai people. The World Fellowship of Buddhism (WFB) was established in 1950 as an international organization to promote the Buddhist cause and to realize the

Buddhist goals. At the ninth General Conference of the Organization held in Kuala Lumpur on 13-20 April 1969 (B.E.2512) the Council adopted a resolution that the permanent headquarters of WFB be located in Thailand. At present, the headquarters in Thailand works in cooperation with 75 regional centers in 34 different countries to achieve its stated aims and objectives.

Being interdependent, Buddhism and the Thai nation are bound together by mutual responsibility to make contributions to mutual well -being.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Life for a temple boy in the countryside is very interesting. Early in the morning before daybreak, he must prepare the black-bowl or alms-bowl and a food carrier for the monks. Then, when the monks are ready for alms-collecting in the village, he will have to carry food for the monks. Every day he will follow the monks who go for alms-collecting 2-3 kilometres away from the temple.

[2]:

Hutchinson, E. W. trans, 1688 Revolution in Siam: The Memoir of Father de Bèze, p.88.

[3]:

Hutchinson, E. W., Adventurers in Siam in the Seventeenth Century, p.32.