Struggling to Understand Thai Hinduism
Posted by Stuart at 01:49 PM on June 10, 2004I've commented several times in this log about the influence of Hinduism on Thai Buddhists. It's a facinating topic for me, because I know so little about both religions. Not only that, but I was taught that there can only be one religion. It is impossible to be a Christian and a Buddhist. Or even a Christian and a Jew. And certainly there is no way one can be a Christian and a Muslim because the two are so "at odds".
If you were to ask any Thai person what religion they are, 90% of them will say "Buddhist". Yet the Erawan Shrine (to the Hindu god of creation) and the Bhramin/Vishnu/Shiva shrine at Central World plaza are immensely popular. Same thing goes for the beautiful Hindu temple Sri Mariamman on Silom near my old apartment. Of course, Thai people have changed the meaning of these shrines, as I mentioned a few days ago.
So can Thai people be Hindu and Buddhist at the same time? How aware of it are they? I'm not sure what the answer is to either question. But today I was directed to an interesting article on the Hinduism Today website, called Thailand Hinduism. It was written by an Indian Hindu who travelled to Thailand to learn about the Hinduism here. One telling quote from the article was from the author's Hindu guide, who said:
Hinduism and Buddhism are considered to be so close that not many people differentiate between the two. Hindu and Buddhist rituals are conducted simultaneously. The Thai people think that it is almost the same. Some even think that Hinduism is just a ritual and not really a religion, or they think Hinduism is an off-shoot of Buddhism. They happily participate in the Hindu rituals, and seek direct communion with the Gods and Goddesses in meditation.
The more I learn, the more facinating it is to me. People are interesting creatures.
Sorry, I forgot to add that this is why yor direct comparision (you can be a Buddhist and a Hindu) to other combinations (you can't be a Jew and a Christian) is flawed - because Buddism isnt a religion, whereas all the others are.
:)
Wow, thanks for the comment, Kevin! I have a few comments in reply (as I try to unravel the mysteries here :)
Yes, I have heard that Buddha did not consider himself god, nor did he want statues made of himself for the purpose of worship. Sounds like he is more of a prophet, similar to Muhammad in Islam.
You made a good point about Buddha being a Hindu.
This aspect is similar to Jesus being a Jew. (With the difference, of course, as you mentioned, that the original Buddha didn't wasn't a god.)
I think, however, that Buddhism is still a religion. At least if you use this definition from Dictionary.com: "A set of beliefs, values, and practices based on the teachings of a spiritual leader." The spiritual leader does not have to be a god, it can be a prophet or a priest or a monk.
I think the key is that Buddhism and Hinduism (in SE Asia at least) have been intertwined for centuries. For example, the Khmers of Angkor Wat were Hindu, but then at some point all of those temples were turned into Buddhist temples. In China, on the other hand, there was never a strong connection with Hinduism (or so it seems from what I have read).
Add that to the fact that Thai people seem to be a very superstitious group and that's how the three-in-one Hindu god gets turned into the God of Love at Central World Plaza. :)
Whew. Facinating stuff! Thanks again for your comment, Kevin.
Stuart,
Thanks for popping by my site. Always great to meet others trapped in the Bangkok urban jungle. Would have written sooner, but didn't realize I had new comments lurking in my older posts.
Paul
Strictly speaking, the essence of Buddhism is actually a philosophy, a way of life, rather than a religion. Gautama Buddha indeed never proclaimed himself to be a god or the one and only God, but as a teacher and philosopher. The definition on dictionary.com for "religion" lacks the word "faith". It is faith (usually in a supreme being) which is the unique nature of a religion that disguishes it from science or philosophy.
Although 90% of Thais identify themselves as Buddhist, I really don't know if they actually know what being Buddhist really means. If 90% of the Bangkok population were truly Buddhist in their way and approach to life, I think that Bangkok would be a much more moderated metropolitan, with less superstition and misled values.
If we use words in the manner of Humpty Dumpty, for whom words meant whatever he wanted them to, then yes, Hinduism and Buddhism are religions. However, if we want our words to be referring to something with objective content, then really, Islam, Christianity and Judaism are the only religions we know of. The distinguishing feature of religion is that God has a Plan, that He has partially revealed to us, and obedience to that Plan gives human life meaning, purpose and morality. Thus, for instance, to say that "should we humans make ourselves extinct, the universe will continue on nevertheless" is an irreligious statement, because it denies God's plan.
By this measure, Hinduism and Buddhism are not religions.
It really becomes very clear when you understand the basics of the Buddha (as opposed to Buddhism).
To bring it down. Buddha is a Sanskrit word meaning "Awakened One, Enlightened One". Saying
"Buddha" is like saying "President" - it doesn't just refer to one person, it refers to a position that can be held by many people. If you take from this that Buddha is a way of living your life to attain enlightenment then you can see that it never actually overtakes or replaces the religion of the Buddha which, historically is Hinduism. When people "worship" a historical figure in Buddhism (which they don't really do, but they will direct their wishes towards this figure), it is usually Siddhārtha Gautama (for want of a better word, the "original" buddha). He was, of course, a Hindu.
Buddhism, therefore, is a way of living that contains no Gods, as such. As you go around Bangkok you'll see statues of (a) Buddha, sure, but you will also see statues of the Hindu gods because they all play an active role in the history of Thai Buddhism.
If you go to China you will see very little Hindu ideology, because the Chinese Buddhists changed the contect for themselves. It just so happens that the Thai decided to maintain more Hindu aspects.
Anyway, dont knwo if that helps haha, but I'll quote something here that makes a bit of sense:
"The Buddha does not claim any divine status for himself, nor does he assert that he is inspired by any god. He claims to be, not a personal saviour, but a teacher to guide those who choose to listen."
Therefore, basically, Buddhism is not a religion. Any seemingly religious aspects are the Buddhists taking the teaching of the Buddha on the subject of Hindu Gods.
Phew. Thank you, goodnight. I'm here all week!