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Thailand Buddhism Reflection
Author : Marcoux Cecil
Submitted : 2011-12-12 20:48:31 Word Count : 870 Popularity: 11
Tags: thailand, buddhism, religion, meditation, travel, self-help
Buddhism is the principal doctrine of Thailand and more than 90 percent of Thai citizens are Buddhists.
Besides being the worshiped Head of State, His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej is the upholder of Buddhism and of all other religions professed by his people, as were his royal forebears. The Thai monarchy, therefore, is the source of national unity.
Meditation is one of the most important aspects of Buddhism, and seeking inner peace through meditation is a growing, global phenomenon. There is an understanding around the world that meditation plays a role in sustaining a healthy lifestyle, with the practitioner seeking some degree of detachment from the material world, and drawing on inner peace for a sense of well-being.
Meditation is a safe way of balancing one’s physical, emotional, and mental states. Today, physicians recommend meditation as a way of relaxing from the stress of everyday life. It can help to lower blood pressure, relieve insomnia, help asthmatic patients breathe more easily, and improving exercise performance in those suffering from angina.
The Kingdom of Thailand has attracted visitors from all over the world who wish to learn more about meditation. The many students of meditation in Thailand range from expatriate residents to tourists, but many come expressly to discover the secret of the peaceful, meditative Buddhist lifestyle. In their different ways, all tend to see Buddhist philosophy and meditation as a means of attaining good mental and physical health, personal fulillment and satisfaction.
Apart from being ideal, purpose built surroundings for the practice of meditation, Buddhist temples are the best environment in which to appreciate Thai art and architecture. Their styles vary according to their location in Thailand and their history.
Temples in the North of Thailand were inluenced by Chiang Saen and Lanna art in the South by the Sri Vijaya. The Khmer empire was the dominant inluence in the East, with the Mon and Burmese in the West.
In Bangkok alone there are more than 430 temples which offer great rewards for the visitor. The impressive, historic Wat Phra Kaew, Temple of the Emerald Buddha adjoining the Grand Palace, is the most frequently visited, both by Thai worshippers and foreign visitors. Another is the nearby Wat Po, with its glittering spires and medical text-books carved in stone at the order of King Rama III.
The murals and frescoes on the walls and ceilings of temples are another important aspect of Thai art and design. They often depict Jataka stories from Thai mythology, or episodes from the Ramakian, the Thai version of the Indian epic Ramayana. The pictures they show of the ways of life of Thai people in former times are beautiful and impressive.
Author's Resource Box
The author is a retired expat living in Thailand and loves Isaan Thailand and thailand hotels 5 star
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