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