Religion and the culture in Thailand

When you travel to Thailand, you discover the culture is significantly influenced by Buddhism. You will find out this affects the daily life of the Thai people. In this chapter of the travel guide, two interwoven things are explained, culture and religion. Because this website is made to help you decide to do a yoga vacation or participate in a monastery in a proper way the site is Buddhism orientated. Furthermore, you will discover appropriate details to get a better idea about travelling a spiritual Buddhist path through Thailand.
But, this does not claim there are not several minority religions such as Christianity, Hinduism, Islam and Judaism. Actually, this travel guide highlights only travelling for Buddhists. 

Theravada and the culture in Thailand

Around ninety per cent of the population is Theravada Buddhist. And Theravada Buddhists carry knowledge about the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path. This way, a Buddhistic practitioner has a moralistic guide.

The Four Noble Truths are suffering, the origin of suffering, cessation of suffering and the path to the absence of suffering. But the Noble Eightfold Path is a system.  

A practitioner focuses solidly on a perception of the nature of their mind and their desires. So, they focus on actions in the here and now. According to Theravada Buddhists, one should strive for virtues like giving, patience, trust, effort, persistence, kindness, wisdom, peace, morality and mental balance. 

Bhikkhus in orange robes

While you visit Thailand you will notice monks – called Bhikkhu – wearing typical orange clothes. This is because during their period in the monastery a Bhikkhu is supposed to live humbly and piously.
So, often a man from Thailand chooses to live in a religious, spiritual way as a Bhikkhu during a given period in his life. While this can be from a few months up until five years. But there are also Bhikkhus who choose to live as a monk permanently.
Obviously, the most significant values of lay Buddhists are the five precepts. In any case, these five precepts should not be violated. If you do so, you should contact a Bhikkhu and do the ceremony of becoming a Buddhist again.
The five precepts are abstention from killing living beings, abstention from theft, abstention from sexual misconduct, abstention from falsehood and abstention from intoxication.

(click image to enlarge)

Captivating view of temple in Thailand

Temples in Thailand

Discover there are many beautiful Buddhist temples you like to see while being on vacation in Thailand. Often the architecture is sophisticated and refined. Besides, the Thai call their temples ‘wat’ in their own language. And it is absolutely worth it to visit a Wat. To illustrate this more profoundly, the definition of Wat is the entire complex of buildings of the temple.

But realize this does not mean all parts of the wat complex give access to travellers. Because some parts of the Wat are shut off and only accessible to monks. However, as a traveller, you are allowed to visit the part of the temple called Wiharn. You can also visit a Sala. A Sala is a pavilion or hall where visitors rest and listen to prayers or sermons from the monks. Visitors bring a sacrifice inside the temple, but consistency and integrity are expected.

Yoga and meditation

If you travel to Thailand then you will discover challenges. Obviously, Thailand is one of these countries that easily meets your requirements when you love to do yoga or meditation. If you are not familiar with yoga then here is a concise explanation. Originally, yoga comes from the Hindus in India and was developed around two millennia ago. Later it spread over other countries in East Asia. Since then, yoga is seen by practitioners as a way to achieve spiritual enlightenment. To illustrate, yoga is an authentic physical way of poses or movements. To clarify, this ancient old spiritual work-out is acknowledged by medical scientists as positive and even healing for both mind and body. 

The culture of Thailand breathes peace and harmony

While you are travelling through Thailand you will discover people strive more for harmony compared to those coming not from east Asia. This is because of the Buddhist way of life. You all know the ying-yang principle from the Buddhistic culture. Did you know that it tries to unify the extremes of an appearance upon the harmonic? Because of this, the most relevant aspect while you travel through Thailand is the deep intertwining of the striving for harmony, tolerance and peace with almost all facets experienced in daily life.

The Famous Smile

When you travel to Thailand and meet the local people you will notice that Thai people always smile. This is the Famous Smile, a trademark from Thailand. So, it is very unusual for people in Thailand to argue or cause a conflict.
Also, it is a common Buddhistic habit to inhibit all feelings and emotions. Because these feelings are suppressed by the Famous Thai Smile.
For spiritual travellers who have already been doing some kind of meditation, this might sound familiar. Likewise, you learn which feelings are bubbling up and substitute these automatically with the Famous Smile.
For this reason, Thai people have a greater degree of acceptance of the things that occur in daily life. Whenever something awful happens like an accident, damage, or even a passing away: Thai people will say: Mai bpen rai. And this means in English something like don’t worry.

Summarizing Buddhism and the culture in Thailand

During your trip, you will get an impression of the strong intertwining of Buddhism with the Thai culture in a positive sense. The Buddhist moral is kind, tolerant and happily.

Daily etiquette is more essential to Thai than the rules of conduct that we use in Western countries. Realize that respect is a fundamental value in Thailand. Respect for the elderly and for significant professions. Such as medics or authorities, respect for the Thai monks and respect for family life.

Temples, monasteries, but also ordinary buildings have altars and spirit houses where people pay religious tributes. The architecture and art of Thailand are all around and overwhelm a traveller and stimulate all religious feelings.

Hopefully, this travel guide will help you make a choice easier when you decide about your travel destination. Combine your religious-cultural experience with a stay in a monastery or a yoga wellness resort.