1.4. Buddhist Tradition of Thai Society

As already discussed in Chapter Two, in addition to being the spiritual focus of the society, the monastery was also an educational institution. Indeed, as in Burma, Thailand providing education for the people was the major means of recruitment into the Order. This was because ordination was a pre-requisite for higher study. During the time of the Buddha ordination was motivated by a desire for salvation; but centuries later, when Buddhism was established outside India, study became the primary motivation. This was true in the Siamese kingdom from the time of the arrival of Buddhism at Sukhothai right up to the 1930s, when secular primary education, which had been introduced about half a century earlier, was made compulsory throughout the country. Indeed, monasteries were the only places to which ordinary people could send their children for education, as the royal school, samnak ratchpandit^[1], situated in the palace, was reserved for children of royal descent^[2].

The Thais enjoy life through participation in several Buddhist traditions and religious rituals supposed to be held many times in a year. Actually, Thai people work eight hours a day and five days a week; Saturday and Sunday, are holidays. And in case that any official holiday falls on Saturday or Sunday, they will be allowed to rack up another holiday as substitution on Monday. There are Buddhist traditions in Thailand which greatly influence of Thai society, as following: