Thailand Meditation
Thailand is one of the most Buddhist countries in the world, with 94% of its population following this religion. Buddhism first arrived in Thailand and Southeast Asia around the 3rd century, B.C. when the Buddhist emperor of India, Asoka, sent elder (or Thera) monks to the territory of Suvarnabhumi, considered by many to be what is now modern-day Thailand. The teachings of the Buddha flourished and spread throughout Southeast Asia including Burma, Laos, and Cambodia.Within modern-day Thailand, Buddhism is tightly woven into the culture, with even a stipulation in the national constitution that the king of be Buddhist. It is a tradition that Buddhist men become monks for some amount of time. Monks in characteristic yellow robes, Wats, and Budhha statues are all around, and in the early moring you can see lay people outside their homes offering alms to monks.
Many lay people as well as monks practice meditation. Thailand has produced great Buddhist scholars and teachers, past and present, such as King Mongkut who founded a influential reform movement; Buddhadhasa Bikkhu was a very influential monk and meditation teacher; and Ajahn Chah , another famous meditation master. Thai people are very happy to see western meditation students coming to study in their country and taking an interest in something that is so much a part of their culture. They will share their experiences as a monk or practitioner as well as how much they enjoy meditation or wish they could do more.
