What is the religion in Thailand? Religion, Buddhism, monastic life in Thailand, the land of yellow robes

This interview was recorded in January 12, and in November Cyril became a monk at the Forest Monastery of Suan Mokkh near Surat Thani, his monastic name is Tan Dammajotto. We talked for the interview right in vipasana - there, of course, it was necessary to remain silent at that time, but firstly, I came to vipasana this time specifically to do this, and secondly, Kirill already then lived mainly in a monastery, far from my Samui home.

Tell us a little about where you are from, what you did before you came to Thailand?

I am from the Krasnoyarsk Territory, near Krasnoyarsk, 30 km away, there is the city of Sosnovoborsk. Studied at the Russian International Academy of Tourism. I worked in a restaurant for about 4 years - I started as a bartender, ended up as a manager, then went to Thailand. Because I didn’t want to live in Russia for a long time. Since school.

Why?

Perhaps someone from the environment influenced me. In general, what pushes us through life? Some kind of power... everyone’s destinies are different and interesting. It's simple. Why do I like Buddhism now - everything is somehow just natural and easy.

How did you come up with this intention to become a monk?

...Somehow it appeared and appeared. I have been living in Thailand for more than three years... for the first two years I lived like most Russians - they come, work, do something here. I was not a very social person, I found myself a house on a mountain in Phuket, there was jungle and peace, there weren’t too many people - just a few houses. I came home from work in the evening - you live, no one bothers you. There was no Russian entourage, and I worked mainly with Koreans.

What was your job?

Seller of latex mattresses and pillows. Then I got tired of this work, some kind of apathy began, I quit, started looking for a new job, and it took three or four months. I never found a job, but I sent a lot of resumes every day. That is, by the will of fate it turned out this way...

Then the money ran out, I moved in with my Thai friend. We lived in the same house for about a year and talked a lot. There was such mutual help and thanks to him I became closely acquainted with Thai culture and Buddhism. He was a monk for only one month at one time. I read a book that opened his eyes to life, Achan Buddhadasa’s “Handbook for mankind” and decided to go to the Suan Mokkh Monastery for a month.

For a month? Is that allowed?

Yes, at least for two weeks. You can set a date in advance when you will cut your hair, or leave for an indefinite period if you don’t know for how long you want.

I came 6 months ago to become a monk at a small temple near Suan Mong Kha, on the advice of my Thai friend. I spent two weeks there, didn’t practice anything special, met Tan Hubert and another monk who was in Suan Monkkh-Andrey at that time. He has already cut his hair and cut his hair twice.

My first experience of meditation was quite chaotic, but everything turned upside down in my head, I began to be interested in the practice. It was on Samui at the Achan Po “Dipabhavan” meditation center. On the way back, I thought, weighed everything and decided to hold off for now and not cut my hair.

What exactly stopped you then?

Yes, doubts - they are always present. Where can I get away from this? And now it turns out that I’m busy here organizing retreats. And that’s why I can’t get my hair cut. So we are thinking about opening a Russian-language retreat or not.

Why is it needed?

After all, 80% of Russians do not understand English. The truth is that what makes us doubt is the peculiarities of the Russian mentality. For example, our rules say: “voluntary donation.” In Thai culture, based on Buddhist principles, the practice of donation or giving is a common and self-evident activity - it is one of the types of merit that makes our lives happier. They bring alms here by car: they come with rice and butter, with food, and they always leave monetary donations after the retreat... due to the fact that Achan Po is a very revered monk - the abbot of the Suan Mokkh monastery. Even just monks in Thailand are the most revered people. And Achan Po even more so. And for Thais it is an honor to help with alms.

But to a Russian person: once it says “voluntary donation”, it means a freebie. They don’t ask for anything, they feed you here, you live, and you don’t need anything for it. But we can’t tell them anything - monks can’t talk about this, it’s not Buddhist.

The goal of the retreat is to educate people and show them the path to liberation from suffering. And the fact that the retreat is free is Achan Po’s personal merit; he believes in people, their kindness, and strives to help everyone, regardless of social status. But for a meditation center this can become a problem. There are more and more Russians every month, the expense is high.

So it’s the Russians who have proven themselves here?

It turns out that yes. It costs nothing for a foreigner to donate 100 dollars, especially in 7 days. The food here is excellent, the living conditions are not bad, and the knowledge you get here is absolutely priceless.

And the path - it frees you from many problems when you understand that your emotions are useless at all, that they are just a movement of the mind. And you understand how to exist in life. They teach us absolutely nothing about this at school. I don’t know what valuable things I got from lectures at school and institute - now I don’t really use anything..

In general, a lot of effort and money goes into such places. Take Kun Sirivan for example. Why does she need this? She donated this land, she comes here and helps prepare food. She doesn't need money - no one makes money from this place. Sometimes it operates at a loss, a lot of money is spent on maintaining this place - food, electricity, gasoline... And the Russians have great interest - they just launched the Russian version of the site, there are more and more of them every month. Next month we will already be limiting places for Russian-speaking participants.

How do you now perceive your mentality - are you already “here” or still “there”?

Oh, if only you knew me what I was like there)). In general, people who come back for retreats say that I change every time.

What is attractive to you about the life of a monk?

The more I practice, the more dissatisfaction with myself appears. The more things you want to change. You do good deeds, but some dirty tricks still rush through your mind. Monastic life only helps the practice. If it were easier to practice in the ordinary world, then why would Buddha choose such conditions, why would he create a monastic sankha? This is when you are protected from social life. The fewer social problems, the calmer the mind. During the rainy season from July to October, young Thais traditionally take monastic vows for three months. Then, of course, many cut their hair, but this is how they learn the Dhamma and how to move through life. And it’s easier to get a job later :)

And of the monks - those who “leave for good” - return back to ordinary life?

Of course they come back. Often. Recently, Achan Po talked about a monk who practiced for 20 years in Suan Mokkh, then began talking on the phone with a woman he knew. She has problems there - her husband died, the children remained... and they knew each other before. And so he talked to her on the phone for a couple of months, then he cut his hair and they now live together. Anything can happen, of course. And people get disappointed if there are no results. Achan Po has been a monk for 60 years and has not been disappointed.

In general, life in Thailand is somehow better quality, people are happier. The mentality is completely different...

What is the daily routine of a monk?

Differently. In Suan Monk they wake up at 4 o'clock, at 4.30 it's already chanting, you can go, you don't have to go. Then they collect alms, then they eat - from 8 to 9. In Suan Monk they eat once a day. Then free time - you can go practice. But no one will ask you whether you practice or not. You can sweep everything beautifully, but no one will praise you. If you do something dirty, they won’t say anything either.

Have you become more collected over these six months?

What else new has appeared in you?

It's hard to say what happened. I can tell you what I got rid of. What you gain is not something new, but ordinary human qualities - kindness, for example. In life, I was very sarcastic and had evil humor... And so - vows, of course, make practitioners more collected. Monks have 227 rules - this is all to maintain awareness of the mind.

Which rules are the most difficult?

It's different for everyone. For me, food is a very big problem - it is very difficult to get rid of this attachment. You can walk consciously for three days, and then you will see some delicacy after 12, and as soon as you eat it, suffering appears. This is a vicious circle and until you achieve Nibbana, everything will constantly return.

What’s more difficult is that it’s difficult to practice. You returned to the social world for a week and there were friends and marijuana all around and food. It's hard to stay there)).

What else are you missing...besides marijuana?)

And this is no longer necessary)). Everything is fine here - under these conditions. And when the mind is calm, nothing is missing. You are content with what you have and happy in the absence of passionate desires.

Do you understand your goal?

Yes, no one understands anything. It's all an illusion. All this developed through traditions, habits and some teachings. Sensory understanding must be precisely in the heart. This is already present in a person from childhood. And the environment sometimes changes for the worse.

According to Buddhism, should you listen to your mind or your heart?

The mind does not belong to you. And if it doesn’t belong, then how can you listen to it? The mind says different things. And you, because of your ignorance, can give some kind of assessment to this, but whether it will be true or not - you never know. Therefore, you don’t need to listen to your mind, but you should let go of your thoughts. Time will tell which decision is correct. And with experience you understand that wisdom comes, you begin to understand what it means to “listen to the heart.” Everything comes back to you.. I broke my finger - I think what happened - what is it. I thought about something bad, did something. In general, the cleaner life becomes, the faster you realize what mistake you made.

Ignorance gives rise to contact, contact gives rise to feelings, feelings lead to desire, desire leads to attachment, attachment leads to becoming, becoming to birth. And birth again leads to suffering, suffering to ignorance, etc. This is a vicious circle. (The twelve-member formula of being - in Buddhism - the scheme of action of the concept of interdependent arising of paticca-samuppada - note by O. Saliya)

And when you are aware, the fewer mistakes you make, the fewer broken toes.

It’s very interesting to get into the essence of things. But Buddhism is structured in such a way that you are not forced to do anything. They just tell you how to practice, you don't have to believe in anyone. In principle, the essence is the same everywhere - any religion leads to kindness and increased morality. It's interesting to go down this path. I am very happy now and consider myself a lucky person in life.

Other interesting posts on my blog:

Thailand is a kingdom located in Southeast Asia. Thais live here, as well as a small percentage of representatives of other nationalities. The population is approximately 70 million people. There are a lot of people here who adhere to one faith or another. Let us consider below all the religions of Thailand with the history of their appearance.

Buddhism

This belief is held by approximately 94% of the total population. And it is Buddhism that is the state. religion of Thailand. Another interesting fact is that the ruler of the country must be a Buddhist.

Regilia appeared here a very long time ago - already in the 7th century BC. e. Ceylon monks were engaged in preaching. This is how Buddhism began to spread among the Thais. And in the 13th century it officially became the main religion of Thailand. The country has still retained its core faith, with only slight influences from other faiths.

Thai Buddhism: types, features, what is its essence?

In general, in Asia there are two types of Buddhism: Hinayan (“southern”) and Mahayana (“northern”). The second type is followed by countries such as China, China, Japan, and Tibet. But the Hinayana branch exists in Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Laos, Burma and, of course, Thailand. The “southern” branch of Buddhism appeared much earlier than the “northern” and comes practically unchanged from the Buddha himself, and its adherents adhere to traditional rituals and customs.

The main difference between the Mahayana and Hinayana branches is their attitude towards the Buddha. In “southern” Buddhism, including Thai, he is treated as an ordinary person who was able to achieve nirvana, and in the “northern” branch he is elevated to a deity. In other words, we can assume that Buddhist Thais see the world as a single whole, where there is no God as such, as Mahayans or Christians, Muslims and others usually imagine him.

Faith is based on virtue, and the main goal of any Buddhist is to achieve nirvana. They also believe in the rebirth of souls, and that past life and actions (good or bad) determine what this life will be like in a subsequent incarnation. There are many rituals in Buddhism that are traditionally performed in Buddhist temples. There are also Thai monks who live in these places either for a certain time or for their entire lives.

But, in addition to the above, religion presupposes that one must live, albeit virtuously, but without martyrdom, which is very characteristic of Christianity, for example. People who adhere to Buddhism have a simpler outlook on life. But at the same time, they believe that all bad deeds come from our base human desires, which must be overcome in ourselves if we want to achieve nirvana or live better in the next life than now. Therefore, many Buddhists have a craving for asceticism.

Islam

The second most popular religion in Thailand is Islam. There are approximately 4% of Muslims here, and their main concentration is in the southern part of the country. This is explained by Thailand's proximity to Malaysia in the south, where Islam reigns.

This religion began to spread in the second half of the 20th century, when the country began to develop economic and trade relations with Arab countries, including neighboring Malaysia. Mostly Muslims in Thailand are representatives of other nationalities and Malays.

Christianity

There are very few Christians in Thailand - from 1 to 2% maximum. But Christianity appeared much earlier than Islam. The religion was spread by European missionaries from the 16th-17th centuries. As in the case of Muslims, Christianity is supported mainly by other nationalities and Europeans living in the country.

Christians in Thailand are divided into several categories: Catholics, Protestants and Orthodox. Mostly there are more adherents of Catholicism.

The first mention of the appearance of a Catholic (namely, a representative dates back to 1550. He arrived from Goa to Siam. Then another missionary wanted to go to the city, but sudden death prevented his plans. Some time later, people who arrived from Portugal began to spread Catholicism. In 1567 year, two Dominicans managed to convert as many as 1,500 Thais. But local pagans opposed this and killed the Dominicans. For a long period, Catholics from other countries were prohibited from entering.

However, closer to the 17th century, this confrontation began to subside. The first church was built in 1674. In 1826, missionaries were allowed to enter the country, and since then, from the beginning of the first half of the 19th century, the construction of many Catholic churches, churches, and chapels began in Thailand.

But with Orthodoxy it’s a different story. It began to spread only in the 20th century, and at the moment it is professed by about a thousand people.

The Thais first met the Russians in Siam in 1863. At the end of the 19th century, representatives of two nationalities from Russia and Thailand were interested in each other as representatives of completely different cultures, including in a religious sense. However, even though Russian people began to come to Thailand, there were practically no priests among them. That is why Orthodoxy appeared so late, because in the 20th century the first Orthodox church was only built and representatives of the clergy arrived.

Animism

Some people in Thailand believe in spirits, and they also have a special relationship with them than in other countries. This is called animism. The essence of the faith is that these creatures live everywhere, and they must be revered and “fed.” They make so-called khanphrabhums (sanprapooms) - these are houses in which food, drinks and incense are placed every day. It is believed that perfumes are fueled by aromas, which is why people should not smell the incense found in these houses.

There are also a lot of rules associated with these small buildings that cannot be broken, so as not to anger these invisible creatures. It is impossible for a shadow to fall on the house, for example. And almost every Thai family usually asks an astrologer for advice about a good location before installation.

These spirits surround Thais everywhere, there are good and evil ones. The souls of dead people who were so “bad” that, instead of being reborn, became something ephemeral are considered evil.

Other beliefs

There are also adherents of other beliefs, which are mainly adhered to. Such people make up less than 1% of the population. These religions include:

• Taoism;
• Confucianism;
• Judaism;
• Hinduism;
• Sikhism.

Attitude to religion

As already written above, a large percentage of people in Thailand adhere to one or another belief, about 0.4% are clergy. Only 0.3% of the general population consider themselves atheists.

Parents instill in their children a special attitude towards Buddhism from an early age. Almost all boys are sent to a monastery for at least two days to become monks.

Also, religion in this country greatly influences the state itself. For example, the Thais will never allow a sacred religious event (namely, to fall on the same date as the state date).

Thais also often visit Buddhist temples, and while there, many rules must be followed. But it’s not scary if a foreigner, due to his ignorance, violated something somewhere. Local residents are usually understanding. And any religion has such rules of behavior in a sacred place. In Buddhist temples, for example, you cannot talk loudly, touch altars and statues with your hands, and much more.

Famous temples

These buildings are some of the most interesting places in the country, and are the most striking expression of Buddhism, the main religion of Thailand. Photos cannot describe the beauty of these structures. Any tourist who has visited the country at least once should take a look at at least one. There are a lot of temples here, and they are all beautiful, but let’s look at the most grandiose of them.

• Although the White Temple is a religious place, it was created by a surrealist sculptor, which can be seen from the appearance of this place. It looks unusual and stands out among its “brothers”.
• The Tiger Cave Temple (Wat Tham Suea) in Krabi is very large and located on a hill. At the very top there is a statue of Buddha, to which about one and a half thousand steps lead.
• The Temple of the Emerald Buddha is owned by the royal family and is considered one of the most popular tourist destinations in Bangkok.
• But the Temple of Truth in Pattaya is entirely wooden. Wood craftsmen worked on its construction, which can be easily seen: the wood has very beautiful carvings and patterns. It reaches a height of over 100 meters and has three floors, each of which symbolizes heaven, hell and nirvana.

Instead of a conclusion

So, what is the religion in Thailand? The state and most popular faith is Buddhism, which is followed by almost the entire population. Most Thais are very religious, but above all they believe that it is important to remain a virtuous person. There are other faiths here, but they are much smaller. It is their attitude to religion that distinguishes the Thais from many other peoples.

How to become a monk in Thailand?

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The sages say that the first step in order to find the right answer is to find the right question. Since you are reading this text, it means you have questions.

Do you sometimes get the feeling that everything we do is aimless and meaningless? That everything that others say, everything they do leads to nowhere. Life is like the wings of a windmill that grind the air, over and over again, turn after turn, and this process drags on year after year. But all routine work, all forces and all aspirations are aimed at grinding air - to nothing. Everything goes towards achieving goals and things without obvious values ​​and having absolutely no meaning to you.

As fate would have it, many of us were born into states that teach us to become good cogs in this social mechanism. But society does not give you answers to the questions for which we are looking for answers. States are akin to big monsters that enslave minds and bodies and subjugate us to themselves, showing us only the world that is profitable for them to show.

Reader, I apologize for such a long introduction and move on to the essence of the question posed.

Thailand is a country of Theravada Buddhism. And for any foreigners, numerous retreats and meditation centers are organized here on the basis of temples and monasteries.

The retreat usually consists of a program of staying at a temple, yoga, meditation and dharma talks. Depending on the location of the retreat, the program and its duration may vary. During the retreat, you will follow almost all the monastic rules and daily routine of the monks.

Usually the retreat lasts two weeks and here you can get acquainted with the way of life of the monks. And spend some time in their role. The most important thing is that you can check whether it is suitable for you. You look at how the monks live, and the monks, in turn, will take a closer look at you.
After completing the retreat course, you will have time to think about whether you should become a monk or not. And if after the first retreat you are not yet ready to make a decision, then you can go through it again. And if you have made a decision, then you will need to approach the monks of the monastery and inform them about your decision.

During the retreat, you will definitely meet people who have gone through it more than once, and possibly in other places. They will be able to advise you where and when else you can go. When I was on the retreat, some of the group members with whom I came had just returned from a retreat from another monastery, and at the end of this retreat they were already planning to go to the next one.

There are no particular difficulties in becoming a participant in a retreat or going to a meditation center. Everything is determined only by your desire. Most of these events are completely free. A tourist visa to Thailand for citizens of many countries is one month. In addition, there are many opportunities to extend your visa, including obtaining a meditation or student visa. If you decide to stay, most monasteries will even help you with the formalities.

There is only one question left: is it worth going to Thailand to become a monk? After all, you can become a monk anywhere. I do not pretend that my opinion will be the most correct. But I believe that since the Sangha was once created, there were certainly reasons for this. And monasticism is practically impossible without the Sangha.

To be honest with you, I don’t know of any other place or country where the visa regime and local hospitality would be so favorable for foreigners, and the Sangha at the same time so strong.

Best regards, Egor.

Interviewed Peter Robinson, author of the book "Phra Farang" (literally "Foreign Monk"). Peter was a long-time Buddhist monk and wrote two books about his experiences. I have one of them, so I know a lot of the interviews well. Therefore, I will translate the most interesting + necessary for understanding the issue.

Source: .
Translation: Agenda

Some foreigners imagine the monks' morning rounds as begging for food. Do ordinary people have a different idea about this?
Without a doubt. Monks do not ask, and there are rules that prohibit them from asking for anything. The monks simply walk down the street with begging bowls, and if people want to offer food, the monks accept it. If people do not offer food, the monks must remain hungry.

Have you ever felt embarrassed on your morning rounds? Have you ever felt like a fraud, or that people didn't take you seriously?
Not at all. Why should I be embarrassed? I did what the Buddha did every day, and the monks did for 2500 years. The Thais never showed that they didn't take me seriously, although my appearance made some foreigners laugh.

I have seen some monks making the rounds in the passenger seat of motorcycle taxis or standing outside 7-Eleven stores. I have also seen some defending their "prey" from rival temples. Are there many Thai monks who are just looking for an easy life or money?
Some monks who stand at 7-Eleven or wherever asking for money or food are not monks at all. They are “false monks.” The police, together with investigators, search for and arrest them, without unnecessary cruelty.
It is true that there are men who undergo the rite of passage for the sake of an easy life, free food and accommodation, a little money for blessings, but there are also lazy people who can be found in any walk of life.

(The most interesting!! - noteAgenda)
Why do Thais choose to give money and food to monks rather than donate to charities or help the poor?
Simply because they believe it gives more good karma. One day I was returning from a round with enough food for six people. The woman was waiting for me at my kuti, wanting to offer me more food. I explained that I already had more than enough and suggested that she take the food to a nearby orphanage. She looked at me like I was crazy and said: “There are no monks there.”


I know that monks are not supposed to touch money, but there are some expenses. What about your electricity bills?
Monks have no real expenses. The bills are paid by the monastery from donations from ordinary people; the monks do not pay for accommodation. But even they sometimes need a little money. Thais are very generous with food on their rounds, but they may not think to offer things like toothpaste, soap and other supplies. I often had to buy them myself when I was a monk.

I often see monks on buses or in taxis. Is the ride free?
The back seats of public buses are reserved for monks and travel is free. Taxis and other personal transport are not free.

These days, many foreigners seem to want to become monks for a short period of time. Do you have any advice for them?
For several years I taught a course for foreigners who wanted to undergo initiation. Many people liked him, but that was because there was no language or cultural barrier between us. I also taught a purer form of Buddhism than that practiced by Thai monks.

To get the most out of this experience, a foreigner wishing to become a monk must undergo ordination in a monastery with a senior monk who speaks English. Those who can not only explain the rules, but also why it is worth being a monk. Otherwise, it's just a waste of time. Probably the best place for a foreigner is in the international forest monastery - Wat Pa Nanachat - in the northeast of the country.

In this article we will talk in detail about Buddhism in Thailand. The information was gleaned first-hand - from a three-hour conversation in English with a monk living in a temple on the Thai island of Tao.

Basics of Buddhism in Thailand

Let's start with the fundamental principles of what is called Theravada Buddhism.

1. Three worlds in Buddhism.

There are three worlds: our world (human), the world of happiness (heaven) and the world of suffering (hell).

2. Purpose of life.

The main goal of life is to go beyond the boundaries of these three worlds and end up in nirvana, where there is no death, disease and suffering. Therefore, only there is eternal happiness.

3. Life after death in Thai Buddhism.

After this life, you can either go to heaven or hell, or be reborn again in our world. Those who have done bad things go to hell. For example, if a person was greedy, then he becomes a hungry ghost or demon, if stupid and ignorant, then he is born in the body of an animal.

In our world, those who led a moral life are reborn, which consists of 5 principles: do not kill, do not steal, do not deceive, have intimate relationships only with your wife, do not take intoxicants (drugs, alcohol). When asked why Thai Buddhism does not prohibit monks from smoking, the following answer was given: “It promotes control of the mind and concentration (which is important for achieving nirvana), but makes the body sick, so everyone chooses for themselves whether to smoke or not. But alcohol, on the contrary, interferes with this.”

Not only the monks living in the temple, but also everyone else can achieve nirvana. It’s just easier to do this in the temple, because... appropriate atmosphere, but at home you are distracted by everyday responsibilities and spend less time on meditation and concentration.

Heaven comes in different forms. If a person meditated and concentrated on satisfying his senses (while observing the 5 principles described above), then in his next life he will go to heaven, where all his needs will be satisfied.

If he meditated on the formless, then in the next life he receives only a subtle body, and not a gross one. You can live in the subtle body for a very long time, but it also dies, so it is an imperfection.

The main perfection of life is to go beyond the three worlds, become like Buddha and live forever. This is the cherished wish of every Buddhist follower in Thailand.

4. Karmic law.

The main law in all three worlds is the law of karma, which can most simply be expressed in words - “what goes around comes around.” If a person does good deeds, then he receives good, and if he does evil, then his life becomes worse and worse. But they are separated in time and the response to good and evil can come in ten years, or even in the next life. But you cannot achieve nirvana by good deeds alone; this requires additional effort.

5. Buddha.

Buddha is a great Teacher who knows everything. He is in nirvana, beyond this world. He is not God, because... according to Thai Theravada Buddhism, the Gods live in Paradise in subtle bodies and are simply higher beings who, like humans, are subject to death (although they live immeasurably longer).

How to achieve nirvana according to Thai Buddhism

Thai Buddhism offers two ways to achieve nirvana. The first is for monks, and the second is for ordinary people. In the first case, the path will be fast, and in the second, a person will go to nirvana in small steps.

For monks, one should follow more than two hundred moral principles (including the 5 described above), study books, practice concentration (for example, watching the breath) and vipasana. Vipasana is a meditation technique that allows you to understand that suffering comes from the duality of this world (for example, good-evil, good-bad), which means you need to disidentify from everything.

For ordinary people to achieve nirvana, the following is prescribed (in Thai Buddhism):

• observe the 8 precepts of Buddhism. Don't kill, don't steal, don't lie, don't take intoxicants, completely give up sex, don't eat after noon, don't sleep on big and luxurious beds and don't sit on big chairs, give up worldly entertainment such as dancing and shows.
• to be generous, i.e. give more than take. The best offering is considered to be made to monks, as they can give a blessing. It is therefore not surprising that in Thailand many locals give food and clothing to the monks as they walk through the streets in the morning. It is very important here with what frame of mind you make gifts. If you give only because religion requires it and you don’t really want to share your goods, then there will be practically no return from such an offering. But if you do it from the heart and with pleasure, then goodness will return to you in even greater quantities. The mindset in this matter is very important.
• practice concentration and vipasana.

At the end of the conversation, several additional questions were asked about what is somehow connected with Buddhism in Thailand.

Questions for a monk about Buddhism in Thailand

What is the daily routine in the temple? What should a monk do every day?

There is no strict routine. Buddha bequeathed only two things - to study his teachings and to practice meditation. Everything else is not so important. Usually the day starts like this. At dawn (at about 6 am) all the monks go barefoot outside the temple gates. They walk silently down the street, not speaking to anyone and not asking anyone for anything. At this time, those who wish can give them food. At around 7:30 everyone heads back to the temple where breakfast begins. Lunch is until noon. There is no dinner (after noon you can only drink water).

Why do monks eat meat, because it is killing animals?

It’s important what mood you’re in. If you are in the mood - oh, what delicious meat, then this will interfere with the path to nirvana, but if you are in a calm mood, not enjoying food, then this will not interfere.

What does Buddhism in Thailand say about the spirit houses that many Thais worship?

Made for good spirits who were very pious in the past and in this life rose to a level higher than human. Buddha said that they should be shown respect, but he never mentioned that for this we need to build houses for them. This is a purely human fantasy, since it is easier for a person to express respect and bring gifts to something tangible than to do it mentally. So they came up with the idea of ​​building houses. But this is a good deed, because it teaches people to give, which means it creates good karma. But you cannot achieve nirvana by making offerings to the spirits.

Do all Thais know the basics of Buddhism? Is it taught in regular schools?

No, Buddhism is not taught in Thailand. Therefore, many Thais have only a superficial, and sometimes even distorted, understanding of the religion of Thailand.

What do Thais think about when they bow before the Buddha statue in the temple? And is it right to pray to Buddha?

Since Buddha is a Teacher and not a God, he should be shown the deepest respect, and not beg for something. It is correct to bow three times. The first is an expression of respect to the Buddha himself, the second to his teachings, and the third to all his followers who follow the path of Theravada Buddhism.

If a person, bowing to Buddha, thinks - give me this, give me that, then this is wrong. This only shows that he has a distorted view of Thailand's Buddhism. Unfortunately, some Thais actually ask him for something rather than express respect.

You can often hear that monks should not be photographed. This is true?

No it is not true. If you have respect and respect for the monk, then there is no problem taking a photo with him. On the other hand, if you don’t respect the monk and want to photograph him only as a curiosity and exotic thing to later show to your friends, then he may refuse.