Exploring Thai Cultural Practices

Picture: Buddhist statue in Buriram left by Kamer empire as far back as the 12 century.

Part of the Peace Corps experience is about having a cultural exchange—both sharing our culture and exploring the Thai culture. Since Buddhism has a long history in Thailand and plays a significant role in Thai culture, I have been discovering various traits of it along the way.

Buddhism is prevalent here in Thailand with a long history of Buddhist influence and a many Thais currently observe Buddhist practices. Although, there are also other religions observed such as Christianity and Islam. Thailand also has a history of influence by Hinduism via merchants and travelers from India who spread their belief system and left remnants of influence—such as animist belief and the symbol of the elephant as a deity figure. I find the history of Thailand—especially of influences that have contributed to current cultural practices to be extremely interesting. History helps fill in the gaps of and answer many question about why things are they way they are.

Along with studying the history, I have also done some ‘participant-observations’ (here comes my Anthropology background) with my family and in the community. A couple weeks ago, I was having a span of bad luck with my phone getting stolen and having knee problems, so my Thai ajan suggested that in Buddhism sometimes they say if you have had bad luck you should go to the wat (Buddhist temple) or to visit some monks and make merit. Making merit is harder to explain than it is to do. It’s hard to convey the exact significance of it since you can’t see an example. It is basically going to a monk or a group of them and offering up something to give them (usually food) and after they receive it they chant a prayer for you. My personal interpretation is that the act of making merit in itself is supposed to be humbling, showing revere for the course of life, making an offering out of free will with out expecting anything; yet; receiving a blessing in return. Though, those are merely my observable interpretations—to be taken for what they are.

I have learned from Thai friends that (in conjunction with Buddhist beliefs) many Eastern cultures consider time more spatially. Meaning time in conjunction with the long-term that is closely tied to nature and astronomical processes rather than something that needs to be beat or managed—like certain Western views of time. This mainframe emulates through lifestyles and use of personal time. People do not necessarily make rigid plans to accomplish things in life rather, they decide the ‘naturally’ right time for things to be done. For instance, there are astrologically determined bad and good days as well as times of the year. Plans for important events such as traveling could be postponed then, depending on the day or hour.
Did you know that Thailand also has a yearly calendar that is different from the Western calendar? This is because Thailand also follows the Buddhist calendar. This calendar follows in accordance with the number of years since the Buddha was enlightened. It is actually the year 2052 in Thailand and it will be 2053 on April 13.

There are certain parts of Buddhism I feel that has become instinctive in the culture. Like in Buddhism and in Thai culture, compassion, patience, and generosity run deep and people will often give altruistically. For example, I am often overwhelmed by the generosity and compassion my host family has shown me. I know they go above and beyond giving what they are compensated for and they do for me more than I myself can give gratitude for. For instance, when I first arrived here, my host brother moved out of his room so I could move in, they bought me a brand-new clothes dresser, and my host brother actually made me a desk. They also have made an ever-so welcoming place for me at their table for every meal and every in-between gathering. My attempts to reciprocate are meager at best. It is hard to even say how grateful I am with limited language—though I have gotten better. Most days I try to bring home small tokens of gratitude such as cookies, packets of coffee, extra laundry detergent—anything I think of that the family might want or need. Mostly, being so immersed in the spirit of compassion and consideration has made me more cognizant of these characteristics in myself.

Picture: Making a merit during a Buddhist holiday ceremony of the first full moon of the year.