| nfluences of Buddhism can be seen in all aspects of | | | | which they are linked with the religion by ties of |
| the Thai life and culture. In the home, people keep for | | | | custom, by attending religious rites, ceremonies and |
| worship the Buddha images of various sizes on small | | | | temple festivals, or by benefiting, either directly or |
| altar-tables. While travelling, they wear small Buddha | | | | indirectly, from some activities and spiritual influence of |
| images around their necks as objects of veneration | | | | religious institutions. Buddhism is their national heritage, |
| and recollection or as amulets for adornment and | | | | the glory of their country which they feel bound to |
| protection. When passing sacred places like the Royal | | | | preserve. Even those who are Buddhists merely by |
| Chapel of the Emerald Buddha, devout Buddhists | | | | name benefit from, and are influenced by, Buddhism in |
| never fail to pay respect to them. Many times during | | | | some or other ways. Their cycle of life turns around |
| the year they hold and attend festivals at a | | | | activities directly or indirectly connected with Buddhism. |
| monastery. Occasionally they go on a pilgrimage to | | | | Devout Buddhists may give food offerings regularly in |
| some favourite shrines located in a remote place. | | | | the morning, send money contributions to their |
| Monastery buildings such as the Uposatha hall and the | | | | neighbourhood monasteries, or contribute to some |
| repository of Buddha images are usually the most | | | | meritorious causes such as building an Uposatha hall |
| beautiful and ornate buildings in the village. The | | | | elsewhere. Thai calendars usually show a special day |
| Buddha’s teachings and Buddhist literature such | | | | of every week which is known as Wan Phra, or the |
| as the Jataka tales have inspired Thai literature and | | | | Buddhist holy day, when the pious are often especially |
| most of the Thai art forms, especially mural paintings | | | | active in their merit-making. They may take food |
| which cover the interior walls of most temples. Pali and | | | | offerings to the monasteries or go to hear special |
| Sanskrit are recognized as classical languages. A large | | | | sermons and observe additional precepts there, There |
| number of Thai words, especially those used in royal | | | | are also Buddhist discussions or sermons on the radio |
| language and writ-ten language are derived from Pali | | | | which they can listen to, and Buddhist programs on |
| and Sanskrit. Scholars writing textbooks usually turn to | | | | television to watch on such days. |
| Pali and Sanskrit roots for modern technical | | | | Some larger monasteries hold special programs on |
| vocabulary. | | | | Saturday and Sunday, the official holidays of the week, |
| BUDDHISM AS LIVED AND CHERISHED | | | | so that working people may be able to benefit from |
| BY THE THAI PEOPLE | | | | their service. Many boys and girls go to attend classes |
| In former days, when Thai men were young, they | | | | at Buddhist Sunday schools which are conducted in |
| served as temple boys in the monasteries and were | | | | monasteries both in Bangkok and in the provinces. The |
| given instruction in reading, writing and simple arithmetic | | | | first of the Buddhist Sunday schools was founded at |
| as well as in religion and morals. Through traditional | | | | Mahachula Buddhist University in B.E. 2501 (1958 C.E.). |
| ordination which is still observed today, they are bound | | | | The number of Buddhist Sunday schools increased |
| to the Order by ties of experience or close relationship | | | | rapidly during the last two decades, and 297 have |
| with the monks who are their former sons, relatives or | | | | been founded up to the present time. |
| friends. At least they live in the Buddhist environment in | | | | |