This chapter presents buddhist teachings and visions to help people make conscientious decisions regarding family planning, contraception, and abortion in thailand. Bodhiraksa assures his followers that nirvana can be reached in this life since it is a state of mind. Does buddhism play a part in the thai education system. Making thai buddhism relevant again by sanitsuda ekachai, bangkok post, march 2, 2017. Whether its the international new year, the chinese lunar new year or the thai solar new year, the transition from one year to another offers an opportunity for buddhists in thailand to make merit by visiting sacred places. New year merit making buddhist tradition in thailand. The idea that degrees of religious commitment vary as between individuals in any society is by no means a startlingly new one, but in the context of thai anthropological studies which. A materialist perspective in the context of an analysis of meritmaking activities that are driven by a latent ideal of the monastery is used to examine how local khmer villagers respond to political influence within temples. I always read a bit of this every day and once ive finished the book i simply begin reading it again. This article examines merit making activities in two buddhist wats temples based on fieldwork in the southwestern cambodian provinces of kampot and kep. Dec 23, 2010 new year merit making buddhist tradition in thailand. As much of the explanations regarding karma and merit are valid in other buddhist countries as well, the term thai has been put in. People in thailand make merit mostly by giving food to monks and making donations to temples.
There are certain religions that are culturebound, judaism is one example. In buddhist societies, such merit making is common, especially those meritorious deeds which are connected to monks and temples. So it was interesting to look further into it myself. It is the most religious buddhist country in terms of the proportion of monks in the population and proportion of income spent on religion. Tambiahs the ideology of merit and the social correlates of buddhism in a thai village, in dialectic in practical religion. The best book on practicing the heart of buddhism there is. Using her own experience as a nun mae chee as well as her relationships with others in a monastic setting, cook uncovers and analyzes the formation of subjectivity, intersubjectivity and the embodiment of ethics in buddhist practice. Ethics, merit and buddhism merit is primarily cultivated through the performance of ethical actions and is largely based upon metaphysical assumptions grounded in buddhist philosophy. While buddhism is the national religion of thailand, the religion itself is highly welcoming and accepting of. For a variety of these works, which also present significant interpretations of merit making, see, for sri lanka, richard f. There is a thai saying which says that if you do good. That is why historically we have indian buddhists, thai buddhists, chinese. Some ways of making merit have been institutionalized in thailand and for lay people in thailand making merit is more common as a religious activity than meditating or studying dharma. See all 4 formats and editions hide other formats and editions.
Ive read many books from many traditions but this one is just incredible in its clarity in describing and teaching. Buddhism is that it is not culture bound, not bound to any particular society, race or ethnic group. A materialist perspective in the context of an analysis of merit making activities that are driven by a latent ideal of the monastery is used to examine how local khmer villagers respond to political influence within temples. While buddhism is the national religion of thailand, the religion itself is highly welcoming and accepting of other ideas and religions. Sep 21, 2006 thailand is predominantly buddhist over 90% of the population are buddhists. This is an engaging, inspiring, and thoughtprovoking ethnography and phenomenology of buddhist insight meditation in contemporary thailand. Buddhist influences can be distinguished in thai lifestyle, mannerisms, traditions, characters, arts, architecture, language, and all other aspects of the thai culture. For by it there is much fruit to one doing any sort of merit. Sometimes, this will be held after waiting a certain period e. Yamatoots buddhism yama sends a yamatoot to collect a soul whose time has come. For example, the thai festival of thet mahachat is dedicated to the recitation of the vessantara jataka, a story about kingship and meritmaking.
That is why historically we have indian buddhists, thai buddhists, chinese buddhists, srilankan buddhists, burmese buddhists and. In creating a buddhist community, jiemin bao shows how the wat thai participants practice buddhism and rework gender relationships in the course of organizing temple space, teaching meditation, schooling children in thai language and culture, merit making, fundraising, and celebrating festivals. Making merit, making art 20181230 mixed media primer learn to paint faster, fix problems, and have fun. Thus, buddhism has become so integrated into thai culture that the two are virtually inseparable. How is this possible in such a thoroughly buddhist country.
Correcting ones view dioohijjukamma the intention to correct ones view is the way of making merit in right view. So it teaches its followers to buy premium spaces in heaven by donating to the temple. Meritmaking activities and the latent ideal of the buddhist. Both meditation and service form salient characteristics of buddhism. Everything you need to know about buddhism in thailand. The author, a thai buddhist, writes that making merit is beneficial to both the buddhist monks who receive offerings and to the buddhists who bring the offerings. Bangkok, thailand so the dhammakaya temple is a cult. Do no evil, that is, be not a curse to oneself and others, was the buddhas first advice. For thai traditionalists buddhism often means merit making activities such as offering food to monks or contributing to the construction projects of a monastery. Notes on thai buddhist temples in the united states 198 1.
Right to family planning, contraception, and abortion in thai. The growth in recent decades of selfgoverning nunneries samnak chii and the increasing interest of thai women in a buddhist monastic life are notable changes in. Apr 29, 2015 ethics, merit and buddhism merit is primarily cultivated through the performance of ethical actions and is largely based upon metaphysical assumptions grounded in buddhist philosophy. He puts forward the following reasons for why we i. Each paragraph is worth of contemplation and study. This book sets out to explore the varying facets and elements that make the thai spirit world so enthrallingly colorful and spellbinding. Meritmakinga is a term denoting happiness, what is desirable, pleasant, dear and charming. Religion plays a central role in thai society with buddhism intertwined in the daily lives of the people.
It is a title, meaning the enlightened one or the awakened one. New year merit making buddhist tradition in thailand lifestyle. Thai buddhism in the buddhist world the buddha buddhism is the western term for the teaching of the buddha or the religion founded by the buddha. These studies were also conducted before the birth of the. It is a beneficial and protective force which accumulates as a result of good deed.
I am far from being an expert on buddhism, but living in thailand it is impossible not to realize the impact it has on everyday life and the value placed on meritmaking. This is perhaps because the pursuit of merit seems to be a lowly practice, focused on getting and selfing, whereas higher buddhist practice focuses on letting go, particularly of any sense of self. The ten bases of merit are very popular in buddhist countries. Correct view is, in fact, the actual feature of all the ten ways of making merit. Others will sporadically feed the many soi street dogs to make merit. The book has been well structured, perhaps with possible academic application in mind, that begins with characteristics of religion in thai society, its institutional structure and attempts to reform it, and then goes on to discuss dhammic socialism, buddhist model of liberation theology, buddhist social ethics, environmentalism and interfaith. Most buddhists do not aspire to awakening in this life but aim to generate enough merit so that in a future life they might be born with the necessary conditions. By making and gaining merit, many thais believe they will live longer and happier lives. The topic is karma and merit in thai buddhism and thus we will define at first the meanings of the terms karma and merit before we investigate in which ways they contribute to the unique form of thaibuddhism. Gombrichs precept and practice oxford, 1971, chapters 47. What is merit merit in buddhism merit buddhism buddhist. The body is finally disposed of in a cremation ceremony, which takes place at a temples crematorium called men. Many will give daily offerings to things like spirit houses. There appears to be a significant amount of crime and corruption in thailand.
Buddhism plays a huge role in thai society in numerous aspects as nearly 90% of thais are buddhists, making buddhist temples and golden statues common sights all over thailand. This book is intended for an audience of undergraduates, buddhist practitioners looking for an overview of the tradition, and readers with a general interest in the subject. Merit buddhism wikimili, the best wikipedia reader. It elaborates the position that buddhist teachings support the nonviolent methods of birth control. A thai temple in silicon valley temple university press. Religion also plays an important role in establishing gender boundaries. In buddhist societies, such meritmaking is common, especially those meritorious deeds which are connected to monks and temples. So its leader reportedly claims to be a doomsday saviour who takes rich donors on a tour to heaven to see the buddha. Popular thai buddhism books meet your next favorite book. Western buddhism and the buddhist revival in asia 187 buddhism and the west in the eyes of western scholars 189 quotations from some great minds and eminent persons 194 appendix. When i asked this question, i did not have a good understanding of how fundamental making merit is to buddhist practice. Meritmaking rites are also held at 7, 50 and 100 days after death. Besides that, the meritmaking rituals create a space to feel at home and to connect with local thai people, and even develop closer relationships with their employers who agree to have the events organized on their premises pp.
Buddhism is a key component to the identities of many thais. Thailand is predominantly buddhist over 90% of the population are buddhists. In fact, all buddhist nations grew up in the cradle of buddhism. This article examines meritmaking activities in two buddhist wats temples based on fieldwork in the southwestern cambodian provinces of kampot and kep.
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