The influence of buddhism is everywhere here in thailand. Experiencing thai buddhism during your time at hope rehab center. 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. The attitude towards addiction is more compassionate than other parts of the world, and there is no.
Mar 12, 2008 making fields of merit presents a unique ethnography of thai buddhist nuns, examines what it implies to be a female ascetic in contemporary thailand, and analyzes how the ordained state for women fits into the wider gender patterns found in thai society. The buddhist publication society is an approved charity dedicated to making known the teaching of the buddha, which has a vital message for people of all creeds founded in 1958, the bps has published a wide variety of books and booklets covering a great range of topics. Making merit is extremely important for thai buddhists, dr. Phraphutthayotfa foundation to have the book published for distribution on the. 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. In buddhism its not the ego thats reborn but the sum of your karma the momentum from your actions and motivations in this. Thai meritmaking customs sentences in thai like other indian religions buddhism teaches the continuity of lives.
Of all the concepts central to buddhism, merit punna is one of the least known and least appreciated in the west. Karma and merit in thai buddhism khun reinhard meditation. Try searching on jstor for other items related to this book. The more devout may occasionally observe five precepts, which. The tradition of releasing fish as a way of making merit is believed to have been started by rice farmers. Buddhism is a key component to the identities of many thais. What is merit merit in buddhism merit buddhism buddhist. The thai peoples nowfamous smile, friendliness and relaxed attitude all attest to their underlying commitment to the teachings of the buddha. It describes realms above and below man into which people are reborn according to their karma. As you may know, the majority of the thai population, 90% are buddhist, more specifically, theravada buddhists. Meritmaking rites are also held at 7, 50 and 100 days after death. 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.
Some scholars say that buddhism was introduced to thailand during the reign of asoka, the great indian emperor who sent buddhist missionaries to various parts of the then known world. The topic is karma and merit in thai buddhism and thus we will define at first the. Ms taya said the goodbook offering as meritmaking event gives monks and novices more knowledge, which is considered a great deed in buddhism. There are actually quite a few books about the actual practice of thai buddhism search for thai buddhism on amazon, though i have never read one. 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.
The mahathammakai chedi and postmodern merit making 4. New year merit making buddhist tradition in thailand lifestyle. Making and transferring merit buddhism thailand visa. In modern thailand, businesses and politicians often make merit to improve. The mai pen rai it doesnt really matter approach to life of the local people is due to an acceptance of the principles of nonself and impermanence. Our programme here at hope rehab center is not specifically based on the teachings of this philosophy, but we do incorporate aspects of it such as mindfulness. Bma organizes book offering as meritmaking to monks. First they pour oil in the container under the statue of the budda for their birth day amy is sunday, alice wednesday, waralak friday, paul tuesday. Correcting ones view dioohijjukamma the intention to correct ones view is the way of making merit in right view. The brief scribbles in the guest book only hint at the individual life stories of the visitors and their engagements with buddhism and contemporary thai art represented by the murals. Everything you need to know about buddhism in thailand. Sandra cates pioneering ethnography of artmaking at wat buddhapadipa, a thai buddhist. When i asked this question, i did not have a good understanding of how fundamental making merit is to buddhist practice. Thongchai winichakul, university of wisconsin this ethnography of mural painting at wat buddhapadipaa thai buddhist temple in wimbledon, englandis brilliantly conceived and executed, a model of what the new.
Jan 29, 2012 first they pour oil in the container under the statue of the budda for their birth day amy is sunday, alice wednesday, waralak friday, paul tuesday. Buddhist nuns challenge gendered orders in thailand 2002. There is a thai saying which says that if you do good. Making fields of merit presents a unique ethnography of thai buddhist nuns, examines what it implies to be a female ascetic in contemporary thailand, and analyzes how the ordained state for women fits into the wider gender patterns found in thai society. Others will sporadically feed the many soi street dogs to make merit.
If they dont stop over on the way, they stop over on the return journey. Merit making on a special day gave me a chance to follow a friend to visit nine temples in bangkok with long and interesting histories and to get an insight into thai buddhism, culture and practice these nine temples were visited within one day. For by it there is much fruit to one doing any sort of merit. Folk thai buddhism receiving blesssings and making merits. So it was interesting to look further into it myself. As much of the explanations regarding karma and merit are valid in other buddhist countries as well, the term thai has been put in parenthesis. Modernity, prosperity, and the dhammakaya temple 3. Between 1984 and 1992, twentysix young thai artists painted a series of temple murals that continue to attract worshippers and tourists from around. The only type of merit that can be dedicated is dhana, or giving. 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. Some people are in such a hurry i dont even get a chance to see or speak to them.
Compassion toward others is the supreme virtue for creating good karma. More than 40 percent of bangkok people surveyed said making merit at buddhist temples would be their top priority over the new year holiday, while another survey said the money spent by thais returning home and shopping would push holiday spending to a year high, helping to boost consumption, an important driver of the economy. Ucc language english pages 353 original publication year 1938 department of archaeology library, government of india a a i. While subscribing to buddhist teachings, thais believe in spirits and the supernatural forces that affects a persons destiny. 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. For a variety of these works, which also present significant interpretations of merit making, see, for sri lanka, richard f. It is a beneficial and protective force which accumulates as a result of good deeds, acts, or thoughts. With this thai global mission accomplished, long distance merit making has changed the artscape in thailand. Its publications include accurate annotated translations of the buddhas discourses.
Making religious merit high on thais new years list. As much of the explanations regarding karma and merit are valid in other buddhist countries as well, the term thai has been put in. He puts forward the following reasons for why we i. Anumodana, the title of weeraratnes article, is the pali term for rejoicing by the recipient of transferred merit. Buddhism became also intermeshed in our research practice. Consumerism and commercialization of buddhism conclusion notes bibliography index. Thai buddhist social theory by tavivat puntarigvivat, published by institute of research and development, the world buddhist university, bangkok, 20. Aug, 2018 making merit is extremely important for thai buddhists, dr. Different opinions exist about when, exactly, buddhism reached that part of the world now officially known as thailand. Taking part in buddhist festivals and ceremonies is also considered a meritorious act. 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. Thai buddhism its rites and activities author wells, kenneth e. Folk buddhism is influenced by the life philosophy of thais. Ucc language english pages 353 original publication year 1938 department of archaeology library, government of india a a i i u u.
Making merit in buddhism part 3 according to the sutra of the great vows of ksitigarbha bodhisattva, one can transfer 17 merit of an act they have performed to a deceased loved one such as in the shitro practice in order to diminish the. Thailand is predominantly buddhist over 90% of the population are buddhists. Religion plays a central role in thai society with buddhism intertwined in the daily lives of the people. New year merit making buddhist tradition in thailand. For thai traditionalists buddhism often means merit making activities such as offering food to monks or contributing to the construction projects of a monastery. By making and gaining merit, many thais believe they will live longer and happier lives.
Jiemin bao shows how 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, engaging in merit making, conducting fundraising, and participating in celebrations and festivals. The average thai is primarily concerned with having a better rebirth through making merit, and the main way to do that in their minds is to donate things to monks, temples, and various godsspirits. Tambiahs the ideology of merit and the social correlates of buddhism in a thai village, in dialectic in practical religion. Buddhist female ascetics and gendered orders in thailand. 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 thai buddhism. Many will give daily offerings to things like spirit houses. Correct view is, in fact, the actual feature of all the ten ways of making merit. People in thailand make merit mostly by giving food to monks and making donations to temples.
Generosity to others, seeking wisdom and sexual discipline are all methods of creating good merit. Good merit includes attention to buddhist practices, study of the sutras, giving offerings to the spiritual beings and diligence with ones work. During the reform period of rama iv, as thai buddhism was being modernized, the festival was dismissed as not reflecting true buddhism. Gombrichs precept and practice oxford, 1971, chapters 47. With this thai global mission accomplished, long distance meritmaking has changed the artscape in thailand.
They see tree ordination ceremonies as an act of making merit. The unique character of this fusion culture is an enigma. Tanabe 2003 provides a general introduction to merit transfer in buddhism, while weeraratne 1965 and walter 2004 discuss merit transfer to benefit the deceased. Merit making activities include offering food and other basic necessities to monks, making donations to temples and monasteries, burning incense or lighting candles. Meritmaking and paramis doing good deeds, developing good habits to become a buddha were greatly emphasized in this festival, through the story about prince vessantaras generosity. The role of lay people has traditionally been primarily occupied with activities that are commonly termed merit making falling under spiros category of kammatic buddhism. It is a beneficial and protective force which accumulates as a result of good deed. These days people are going all over the place looking for merit 2. Making merit by releasing fish or birds is buddhism for the common man or woman and mixed up with a range of older religious beliefs and superstitions. Popular thai buddhism books meet your next favorite book. I had been thinking about the motivation behind merit making and the righteousness freely offered in christ when i saw on the book rack at 711. The study also deals with the nuns agency in creating religious space and authority for women. Sandra cates meticulous and insightful account shows how relations between the local and the global, national identity and modernity, religion and art, monks and artistsalmost everythingshifted out of place.
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. Sometimes, this will be held after waiting a certain period e. Ecology monks in thailand seek to end environmental suffering. Religion plays a central role in thai society with buddhism intertw. Sandra cates pioneering ethnography of art making at wat buddhapadipa, a thai buddhist temple in wimbledon, england, explores contemporary art at the crossroads of identity, authority, and value. Dec 23, 2010 new year merit making buddhist tradition in thailand. Notes on thai buddhist temples in the united states 198 1. They see tree ordination ceremonies as an act of making merit, which can help with rebirth and, in some. Ms taya said the good book offering as merit making event gives monks and novices more knowledge, which is considered a great deed in buddhism. 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. The effect of buddhism in thailand is not only to be found in the personal and mental peace of its people but can also.
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