Buddhism
In theory, Buddhism is a "school of life" that leads to Nirvana, the extinction of all desire (and therefore of the pain of not being able to satisfy one's desires). Knowing the Thais and their thirst for instant gratification, one wonders if there isn't some misunderstanding here. In fact, the vast majority of the kingdom's inhabitants are Buddhist "in fits and starts". An offering will be made to ask for help for a son who has gone to work in Bangkok, to treat a sick animal or to win the lottery. In the countryside, however, visits to the temple are more regular and the Buddhist monk is highly respected. He may give free instruction to some children and offer advice (which is particularly well received) to those who come to consult him.
Theravāda Buddhism. This is the Buddhism practiced by the vast majority of Thais. Stemming from the Sthaviravāda school (which in Sanskrit means theTeaching of the Ancients), it is a conservative form of Buddhism that remains close to the original teachings. It is based on the words of Shakyamuni Buddha (the Buddha), collected by his contemporaries. It was first introduced to the country by the Burmese in the 6th century. By the 14th century, the kingdom of Ayutthaya had adopted Theravāda Buddhism as its official religion. Monks from Ceylon, where it was widespread, were even commissioned to propagate this faith among the kingdom's subjects.
The life of Buddha. Prince Siddhartha Gautama was born in 560 BC. His father ruled the principality of Kapilavastu, on the Indian side of the Himalayas. The Buddha is therefore not a legendary figure, but an authentic historical figure whose life is very well known. His mother died shortly after his birth, and his father transferred all his affection to this only child. To prevent him from experiencing the misery of the world, he forbade him to stray from the immediate vicinity of the palace. At 16, the prince married a princess cousin. At 28, he leaves the palace to explore the surrounding area. He had four encounters that totally changed his vision of the world and of life. First, a decrepit old man who shows him that youth doesn't last. Then he meets a man suffering from the Black Death, who shows him what the disease is all about. Then the sight of a corpse on a pyre teaches him the reality of death. On his fourth outing, he met a serene ascetic beggar in the midst of all his suffering. At the age of 29, he fled into the forest, leaving behind wife and child. To escape suffering, he first followed the example of the ascetic beggar. For seven years, he practiced yoga, eating very little. But these hardships seemed to him to be pointless suffering. He then immersed himself in meditation and finally experienced Enlightenment, attained under a tree in Bodhgaya, India. He becomes the Buddha, the Enlightened One. Man must follow a path between asceticism and hedonism, both equally unnatural and unhelpful: the Middle Way. Buddhism, like Hinduism, believes in reincarnation. Whoever succeeds in ending the cycle of reincarnation will cease to suffer and attain Nirvana. For the rest of his life, Buddha led a pilgrim's life to put his doctrine into practice. He didn't preach it in words, but offered his own life as a model. He only occasionally answers questions put to him. Writings on his sermons are therefore very rare. At the age of 80, in 480 BC, he died. He lies on his right side, waiting to enter Nirvana.
Animism and popular beliefs
While Buddhism was developing, animism, the traditional religion of the Thai people, continued in parallel after the 13th century. The cult of the House of the Spirits is deeply rooted in contemporary Thailand. You'll often see a small altar at the entrance to a house, hotel, store, field, etc. This little residence, set on a pillar or canopy, houses statuettes representing the protective spirits of the place, to whom prayers, food, drink, flowers, incense or money are offered in order to satisfy them. These statuettes can then be used to combat any malevolent spirits on the prowl. When, despite offerings and prayers, the spirits continue to prove harmful, there's only one solution: call the bonzes to the rescue. They come to exorcise these miniature demons by sprinkling your home with holy water and prayers. In this way, the bonze must satisfy the animistic beliefs of the Thai people. And yet Buddha made it clear that evil spirits don't exist and that superstition is futile. But the bonze is called upon to solve the problems of daily life and play the role of astrologer. He has to guess the winning number in clandestine or official lotteries; exam subjects for students; the best day for a wedding or to sign a contract, go on a trip, make a coup d'état... Thai Theravāda Buddhism has absorbed this animistic practice, failing to make it disappear.
Since the founding of the Chakri dynasty, Thais have claimed that their country has always retained its independence because it is protected by a deity called Phra Siam Deva Dhiraj. The idol, a small gold statue, can be found in the Phaisan Thaksin Throne Hall in Bangkok's Grand Palace. Whenever there's trouble in the country, the authorities will solemnly beg her for help. Nang Kwak is a deity of Thai folklore, prayed to for good luck and prosperity. She is traditionally depicted as a beautiful woman in a red dress.
The influence of Hinduism
The country is home to around 7,000 Hindus of Indian origin. While Hinduism has had a major influence in Cambodia, it has had less so in Thailand. After the publication of the Ramakien, the Thai version of the Ramayana, Hindu mythology infiltrated Buddhism.
The Ramakian
The Ramayana is an epic poem written around 2,000 years ago in India by the poet Valmîki. It is India'sIlliad andOdyssey, but longer and more complicated. The Ramayana was transposed into Thai, under the title Ramakien, in 1807, by the poetically inclined King Rama I. The Ramakien has had a fundamental influence on Thai spiritual and social life. The influence of Hinduism, which was already strong, was accentuated. The Ramakien provides the theme for the classic Thai dances, the Khons, which you must see once in a dinner show. Finally, it's worth noting that the name of the Ramakien hero, Rama, is also the title of the kings of Thailand.
Islam
Muslims number over 3 million. The majority belong to the Sunni branch of Islam. The Muslim population is diverse and made up of different ethnic groups: indigenous Thais, Malays, Chinese, Rohingyas... Popular opinion would have it that the majority of the Muslim population is to be found in the provinces of Satun, Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat, in the south of the country, close to the border with Malaysia. Yet Ministry of Foreign Affairs surveys indicate that these provinces are home to only 25% of the Muslim population. Muslims are therefore scattered throughout Thailand, particularly in the big cities.
Christianity
In 2021, Christians represented just 1.2% of the Thai population, and places of worship are relatively rare.
