Religion
The overwhelming majority of Thais (over 90%) are
Theravadic Buddhists, with the rest of population split between Muslims,
Christians, Sikhs and Hindus. Older animist beliefs still remain but the
majority follow a version of the Theravadic Buddhism that originated in
India from around the 3rd century BC.
Buddhism is a tolerant religion based on the notion that
life is a series of cycles moving closer and closer to spiritual
enlightenment and nirvana with each reincarnation. A soul is reborn
according to its progress (or lack of) towards nirvana with animals forming
the bottom strata and monks occupying the top.
Nearly all Thai Buddhist men will become monks for a
period of their live, if only for a short time. At the wat (temple) they
learn the tenets of the religion, embracing the philosophies of celibacy and
spirituality while rejecting materialism and personal gain Women cannot be
ordained but some become nuns. The practice isn't wide spread though, and
numbers remain very low.
In Thai society , spiritual advancement is achieved
through the practice of making merit - doing good in any number of ways
which may include donating to the poor or a temple or handing out rice to
monks during their morning alms gathering processions.
Buddhism, like many religions, is very much a way of life
and the relaxed all-embracing psyche and attitude of the country is much
entwined in Buddhist philosophy.
