Multi-Religions and Beliefs in Thai Society

byPakpong Wudthiwongse (Ph.D.)

S

?• Why does religion plays a major role in

controlling a society? • Why does Buddhism plays an important

role in shaping Thai cultural and identity?• What are positive and negative values

found in Thai society at present?• Any others beliefs and religions have

influenced Thais Why?

Let jogging your brain

Pramarumas : King Rama IX

Mythical animal in Himmaphan forest

There are many groups of Himmaphan’s animals such as bird, elephant, lion, deer, sneak, crocodile, fish, dog, monkey, horse etc.

Mythical animals reside in Himmaphan forest

Pramarumus : Royal Cremation

The world of beings in Buddhist Cosmology

The human world

The heavenly world

The brahma world

The unhappy world

Luk Thep ;Angel Child

“It’s something that society should decide if it’s real or not”. (Prayut Chan-o-Cha)

Soft spot for SUPERSTITION

Kumanthong

What is his name?

Brahma : The Creator

Brahma Shrineat Ratchaprasong intersection, Bangkok

What did they talk about this bust??

What do you see in the picture?

What is his name?

Lord Ganesh : God of Wisdom

Thais worship Goddess of Earth : พระแม่ธรณี

Lord SivaThe Destroyer

Indian supreme GOD

Lord Pirun : The God of Rain

The symbol of Kasetsart University and Ministry of Agriculture and Co-orperative

Thakien Shrine

Phra Budda Chinnarat

In Pitsanulok Province

The Most Beautiful Buddha Image in Thailand

King Cobra Shrine

Koun-Imm Buddhi Sattwa

Garuda : Lord Vishnu’s Carrier

The King of Thailand ride the Garuda

Thais worshipA Spirit house

พระภูมเิจ้าที่

Devotees at Gurudwala

In Phahurat Bangkok

GurudwalaOr Wat Sikh

คุรุทวาร

หรือ วดัสิกข์

พาหุรัด

Central Mudjid

In Yala ProvinceThailand

Central MudjidIn Patani province

Uma Devi Temple Or Maha MariammaWat Kheak on Silom Road

Lord Jatukham Rama DevaA form of Buddhi Sattwa

The Stain Glasses of Saints in Catholic Church

The BiggestCatholicChurchIn Thailand,Located inChantaburi Province

Thai classical musicGuru Worshipping

Ordain Ceremony พธิีบวช

VegetarianFestivalIn Thailand

Praying for rainfall ceremony in the North East

Talismans &Amulets

What do they ask for?

From the presentationHow many religions and beliefs are there

in our society?

Religions & Beliefs in ThailandThere are 5 big religions in Thailand.1. Buddhism2. Islam3. Christianity (Catholics & Protestants)4. Hinduism or Brahmanism5. SikhismOther beliefs1. Animism2. Spirit, etc.

The Primeval beliefs• The primeval beliefs of Southeast Asia

people including Thais were created by members of agriculturally based society.

• They believed in spirits, devas, goddess, and the unique fate of individuals or communities.

What is the meaning of religion?General term :

A particular system of faith and worship

Sociological term :A set of beliefs, symbols and practices which is based on the idea of the sacred and which unites believers into a socio-religious community.

• Religions & Beliefs create beliefs• Beliefs create Values• Values create Pattern of Bahavior or

Social Norms - Folkways- Mores- Rule, Laws

• Values create Material Cultures etc.

About Buddhism in Thai Society

• Buddhism : Buddhism first obviously appeared in Thai kingdom during the period 13th to 15th

century.

• Around 94 percent of Thais believe in Buddhism.• Thai norms, values, beliefs mostly derive from

Buddhism.

About Islam in Thai Society• Islamic communities has been established in Thailand

before 16th century.• About 4 percent of Thais believe in Islam.• There are 2 big sects –Sunni and Shi’ite• Around 20 percent of them live in the four provinces in the

deep south. • About 2,000 mosques in Thailand, 100 of which are in

Bangkok• Some 200 Muslim schools offer secular and religious

instruction.

Christianity in Thai Society• Catholics was first introduced into Thailand during 16th

centuries by European Missionaries.• Protestant came to Thailand in early Rattanakosin

period.• Around 0.5 percent of Christians living in Thailand.• The Christianity played significant roles in the

development of modern education and modern medicine. (made the smallpox vaccination, wrote the first Thai-English dictionaries, trained the first doctors in Western medicine)

Hinduism in Thai Society

• Less than 0.1 percent of the population believe in Hinduism and mostly concentrated in Bangkok.

• Hindu came to Thailand from several regions of India. (UP, Punjab, Tamil, Delhi etc.)

• There are many Hindu shrines located in Bangkok. (Uma temple, Vishnu temple, Thepmontien etc.)

• The most important gods in Hinduism are Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Siva.

Sikhism in Thai Society

• Sikhs are accounted for around less than 0.1 percent of the population and concentrated mainly in Bangkok.

• All most of them came from Punjab, India• There are 2 big sects of Sikhism in Thailand –

Akali and Namdhari.• They enjoy to intermarriage among themselves.

The functions of religions

• Explain the meaning of the existence of things and the occurrence of phenomena.

• Social controls• Consoling through constructive meaning of

the crisis.

The Concepts of BuddhismThe Thai beliefs are mainly based on Buddhism.

What was Lord Buddha enlightenment?The Noble Truths and Eightfold Path

What are the Noble Truths?

• All existence is suffering ทุกข์

• The sources of suffering สมุทยั

• Suffering must be eliminated นิโรธ• The way to eliminate suffering มรรค

Do you know the Eightfold Path?

1. Right Understanding สมัมาทิฐิ ทฤษฎีถูก

2. Right Thought สมัมาสงักปัปะ คิดถูก

3. Right Speech สมัมาวาจา วาจาถูก

4. Right Action สมัมากมัมนัตะ กระทาํถูก

5. Right Occupation สมัมาอาชีวะ อาชีพถูก

6. Right Effort สมัมาวายามะ พยายามถูก

7. Right Mindfulness สมัมาสติ ระลึกถูก

8. Right concentration สมัมาสมาธิ จิตตั้งมัน่ถูก

Buddhism shapes the Thai cultural identity

• Habit : Compassionate, Smiling, Polite, Peace-loving

• Arts : Buddha images, Temples, Stupas, Chetiyas• Language and literature : Pali, Sanskirit• Ways of lives : interact with one another• Customs and Etiquettes : Festivals, being grateful• Education : Schooling • Music : for special occasion of religious rites and

festivals

Belief in Buddhism

• Belief in the Law of Karma• Belief in beneficial effect of virtuous action

and adverse effect of malicious actions.• Belief in one’s ability to get oneself liberate

from the “Samsara” วฏัฏะสงสาร

Does Buddhism has deities?

Yes , of courseGoddess of Earth : พระแม่ธรณี

God Indra : พระอินทร์

Earth Guardian : ทา้วจตุโลกบาล

Why does Buddhism firmly establish in Thailand ?

• Buddhism is blessed with succeeding generations of monks and royal support.

• The temples in Buddhism serving as the linkage between ruling elites and their subjects, schools community’s forum, art centers, nurseries for children and the elderly, and also animal sanctuaries.

The belief in Hinduism

• Believe in Gods and Goddess such as Tri Murti – Brahman, Vishnu, Siva and others like Ganesh, Durka (Uma), Luxmee, Lord Ram etc.

• Worshipping Gods and sacrificing for them• King as Avatar of Lord Vishnu or Narayana• Believe in Phra-Bhum etc.

The beliefs in Animism

• Good spirits– Ancestral spirits, Spirit House

• Harmful spirits - Spirit evil, Demon

Beliefs results in the creation of value rites, customs and norms

• Reverence of and loyalty to the king.• Fondness for money• Admiration for the persons with power• Inclination for merit-making• Fondness of fun and amusement• Inclination for consumption and consumerism• Inclination for gambling• Fondness for festivals• Emphasis on seniority, rank, and title.• Emphasis on gratefulness.

The five basic values

• Self-dependence, diligence, responsibility• Thriftiness• Observance of rules and laws• Observance of religious precepts• Patriotism, ties with religion and loyalty to

the king

Multi Religion & Beliefs in ASEAN

religions in our neighboring countries• Buddhism, Theravada sect is the main

religion in Myanmar, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia.

• The majority of population in Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia are Muslim.

• Christianity is the main religion in the Philippines.

• Almost all Singaporean Chinese and Vietnamese are Buddhist, Mahayana sect.

Myanmar

Laos

Singapore

Malaysia

Brunei

?• Why does Buddhism play a significant role in Thai

society?• What are the contemporary values in our society?

(5 items with a brief explanation)• What are the five basic values issued by the

National Commission?• Please illustrate influences of Hinduism in our

society?• Which aspects of cultures did Christianity bring to

Thai society?

Conclusion

BuddhismNo GOD, but many spiritual beingsThe Afterlife? : Rebirth – we are endlessly

reborn in new bodies, unless we achieve “Nivana”

Scriptures? : Tripitaka พระไตรปิฎก

HinduismGOD? : Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Sarasvati,

and many othersThe Afterlife? : ReincarnationScriptures? : Vedas, Upanishads and othersSacred Animal? : Cow is the symbol of Earth

ChristianityOne GOD? Yes, one in three personsThe Afterlife? : A final judgment, followed by

heaven or hellFounder? : Jesus Christ Scriptures? : The BibleMajor Festivals? : Christmas, Easter

IslamOne GOD? : Yes, AllahThe afterlife? : A last judgment, followed by

heaven or hellFounder or Prophet? : The Prophet MuhammadScriptures? : The KoranHoliest Place? : The Ka’bah at Mecca in

Saudi Arabia

SikhismOne GOD? : Yes, He is the True Name, He is

the CreatorThe Afterlife? : Rebirth –unless we achieve

“Agaburush”Founder? : Guru NanakScriptures? : The Guru Granth SahibReligious symbols : 5’K (Sword, Comb,

Bangle, uncut hair, breeches)

Sawasdee

Sawaddee