Chapter 1
Thai Buddhism, the Mass Media,
and Culture Change in ThailandAbstract From a historical perspective, Thai Buddhism is a hybridization of an-
imism, Theravada Buddhism, and Brahmanism. As Thailand has gone through four
phases of globalization, from the archaic period to proto-globalization, globaliza-
tion, and contemporary globalization, Thai Buddhist beliefs and practices have also
been modified accordingly.This paper attempts to analyze the following:(1) How the Sangha, or the Buddhist body of Thailand, has been impacted since it
has become part of the state during the reign of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V);
(2) How the economic and social development has an impact on Thai Buddhism,
especially the animistic beliefs, cults, Hindu Gods, and astrology; and
(3) How the Thai mass media and new social media create hypes on Buddhism,
animism, and the further commercialization of Buddhism.
1.1 Introduction.........................................
Theravada (ways of the elders) or Hinayana (smaller vehicle) Buddhism has
become the main religion of Thailand since the archaic period. According to King
Ramkhamhaeng’s script, dated 1291, the“Lankawong” doctrine or Theravada
Buddhism from Sri Lanka was propagated to the archaic Sukhothai from Nakhon Si
Thammarat in the south of current Thailand (Ishii 1986 : 60). The soteriology of the
Theravada doctrine is“one’s acts determine one’s salvation”(Ishii 1986 : 3).
Theravada is the way to cease suffering through the Noble Eightfold Path handed
down by the Lord Buddha. Theravadians consider themselves Orthodox Buddhists;
they do not mix the Buddhist philosophy with other Eastern traditions and
philosophies like the Mahayana (greater vehicle) Buddhism practiced in East Asia
(http://viewonbuddhism.org/vehicles.html and http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/
religions/buddhism/subdivisions/mahayana.shtml. Accessed September 22nd,
2014).
As Thailand has passed through many phases of globalization, Buddhism
practiced in Thailand has also been affected as part of these cultural changes.
Theravada Buddhism has blended with other religious practices such as Hindu,©Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2017
P. Malikhao,Culture and Communication in Thailand, Communication,
Culture and Change in Asia 3, DOI 10.1007/978-981-10-4125-9_11