Buddhism in Thailand

Buddhism in Thailand

An explanatory and respectful stop on the Bangkok audio-guided tour, this pause invites you to step back and consider the place of religion in Thailand. After passing so many temples, it is the right moment to understand this ever-present spirituality.

A land of traditions

More than ninety per cent of the inhabitants are Theravada Buddhists, nearly sixty-four million people, making it one of the largest Buddhist communities in the world. The country is also home to Muslims, especially in the South, Christians, Hindus, Sikhs and large communities of Chinese origin practising ancestor worship or Taoism.

What to see

Animist beliefs remain very much alive: the small spirit houses in front of shops or hotels bear witness to this. Here, traditions coexist naturally. Theravada Buddhism rests on the Four Noble Truths, which teach that life involves suffering, that it comes from desire, that one can be freed from it, and that the path to follow is the Eightfold Path. Keep these notions in mind to better understand the temples.

Practical information

This stop is an explanatory pause on the route, to be experienced among the temples of Bangkok. In all places of worship, dress covering shoulders and knees and respect for silence and the faithful are required.

What is the majority religion in Thailand ?

Theravada Buddhism, practised by more than ninety per cent of the inhabitants.

What does Theravada Buddhism rest on ?

On the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path, which guide towards liberation from suffering.