| Buddhism: | | | | ritual. Important aspects of Brahmanism touch every |
| More than 500 years before the birth of Jesus Christ, | | | | present-day Thai. The traditional and formal Thai |
| the Indian Prince Siddhartha Gautama attained | | | | wedding ceremony is entirely Brahman in origin. |
| Enlightenment and founded the great Eastern religion, | | | | Brahmans still preside over various royal Thai court |
| Buddhism. Gradually spreading through Asia, | | | | rituals and Brahman shrines can be found throughout |
| Buddhism became the dominant spiritual force in | | | | the country. |
| Sikkim, Bhutan, Tibet, Mongolia, Ceylon, Burma, Laos, | | | | Buddhism also made deep inroads into the animist |
| Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, China, Korea and Japan, | | | | beliefs which had held sway in the Menam Chao Phya |
| where it was responsible for moulding attitudes, | | | | basin. Despite its popularity, it never entirely |
| tempering morality, colouring customs and inspiring | | | | supplanted them. Through animism one could placate |
| some of the world's finest art, sculpture and | | | | rampant, vengeful spirits. Buddhism, on the other |
| architecture. | | | | hand, spoke to the individual's inner being and |
| Buddhism first appeared in Thailand during the 3rd | | | | provided him with direction in ordering his daily life. |
| century B.C. when missionaries despatched by the | | | | More importantly, it gave an explanation for his |
| Buddhist Indian emperor Ashoke (267-227 B.C.), | | | | existence and offered hope for a better life in future |
| visited Nakom Pathom, today a provincial capital and | | | | incarnations. |
| site of the world's tallest Buddhist monument. Once | | | | Briefly, Buddhists believe that one's life does not |
| established, Buddhism proved a durable and | | | | begin with birth and end with death, but is a link in a |
| persuasive force, so much so that the Mons | | | | chain of lives, each conditioned by volitional acts |
| migrating into the area during the Dvaravati period | | | | (karma) committed in previous existences. The |
| readily adopted it as a complement to the | | | | concept of karma, the law of cause and effect, |
| Brahmanism they already practised. | | | | suggests that selfishness and craving result in |
| At its inception in 600 B.C., Buddhism had been a | | | | suffering. Conversely, compassion and love bring one |
| reaction against Brahmanism, the major | | | | happiness and well-being. Therefore, only by |
| contemporary Indian religion which would later be | | | | eliminating desire can one find peace of mind. The |
| absorbed by Hinduism. | | | | ideal Buddhist aspiration is to attain perfection through |
| Buddhism eschewed Brahmanism's emphasis on caste, | | | | Nirvana, an indescribable, immutable state |
| on dogma regarding sacrifice, ritual and asceticism and | | | | unconditioned by desire, suffering or further rebirth, |
| its pantheon of Brahma (the Creator), Vishnu (the | | | | In which a person simply is, yet is completely at one |
| Pre-server) and Shiva (the Destroyer). At the same | | | | with his surroundings. |
| time, it modified Brahmanic concepts of karma and | | | | Later, the Thais moving southward from China |
| rebirth. | | | | similarly embraced Buddhism, finding it psychologically, |
| Brahmanism answered the needs for formalized | | | | emotionally and intellectually satisfying. Moreover, |
| celebration of man as a higher being. Later, | | | | Buddhism was easily adopted because it did not |
| associated with the monarchy, it provided | | | | conflict with animism or Brahmanic ritual but fulfilled |
| ceremonies governing court etiquette, hierarchy and | | | | needs not addressed by either. |