Sukhothai Period
Although animistic beliefs remained potent in Sukhothai, King Ramkhamhaeng and his successors were all devout Buddhist rulers who made merit on a large scale. The major cities of the Sukhothai kingdom were, therefore, full of monasteries, many of which were splendid examples of Thai Buddhist architecture. Sukhothai adopted the Ceylonese school of Theravada Buddhism, beginning with King Ramkhamhaeng’s invitation to Ceylonese monks to come over and purify Buddhism in his kingdom. This Ceylonese influence manifested itself not only in matters of doctrine but also in religious architecture. The bell-shaped stupa, so familiar in Thai religious architecture, was derived from Ceylonese models. Sukhothai style Buddha images are distinctive for their elegance and stylized beauty, and Sukhothai’s artists introduced the graceful form of the “walking Buddha” into Buddhist sculpture.

Tags: Buddha,Buddhism,Rama,Thailand
Categories: Buddhism
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In Thailand there are four allies in maintaining stability of Buddhism: Buddhist monks, the King, the government and Buddhist lay people.

1. The Order of Buddhist Monks (Sangha)
The Sangha or the Buddhist Church is a sacred and spiritual institution of Thailand. There are about 30,000 wats (Buddhist Monastery) and about 5,000 hermitages in the kingdom. There are about 300,000 monks and novices living in those wats.

In addition to monks and novices, there are about 10,000 nuns who live in their own nunneries or in their living quarters near some wats.

Tags: Buddha,Buddhism,Monk,Thailand
Categories: Buddhism
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Introduction
For more than 2,500 years, the religion we know today as Buddhism has been the primary inspiration behind many successful civilizations, the source of great cultural achievements and a lasting and meaningful guide to the very purpose of life for millions of people. Today, large numbers of men and women from diverse backgrounds throughout our world are following the Teachings of the Buddha. So who was the Buddha and what are His Teachings?

Tags: Buddha,Buddhism,Rebirth,Thailand,Truth
Categories: Buddhism
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This is a Book Review!

Can you make a good “publication” better? Yes you can, and this, the updated and upgraded ‘e-book’ CD from Yves Masure, previously called the Thailand Lexicon of Cultural History, but now re-titled as Thailand Digital Travel Guide and Lexicon, is better than before. For starters, the CD now gives you a choice of three languages – English, Dutch and French, as well as being more ‘user friendly’ with its internal links.

Tags: Buddha,Digital,eBook,Gift,Guide,Photo,Travel
Categories: Thailand
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