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Besides
moulding morality, providing
social cohesion and offering
spiritual succour, Buddhism
provided incomparable artistic
impetus. In common with medieval
European cathedrals, Thailand's
innumerable multiroofed temples
inspired major artistic creation.
Another reason for Buddhism's
strength is that there are few
Thai Buddhist families in which
at least one male member has not
studied the Buddha's teachings
in a monastery. It has long been
a custom for Buddhist males over
twenty, once in their lifetimes,
to be ordained for a period
ranging from s days to a months.
This usually occurs daring the
annual Rains Retreat, a a-month
period during the Rains Season
when all monks forego travel and
stay inside their monasteries.
Besides sustaining monastic
communities, Thai temples have
traditionally served other
purposes – – as the village
hostelry, village news,
employment and information
agency, a school, hospital,
dispensary and community centre
– – to give them vital roles in
Thai society. The Thais have
always subscribed to the ideal
of religious freedom. Thus
sizeable minorities of Muslims,
Christians, Hindus and Sikhs
freely pursue their respective
faiths.
However, English
is widely understood,
particularly in Bangkok where it
is almost the major commercial
language. English and other
European languages are spoken in
most hotels, shops and
restaurants, in major tourist
destinations, and Thai-English
road and street signs are found
nation-wide.
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