The faith of Buddhist monks. Religion. History and modernity (4). Religion in Thailand and its neighbors

There are about 14.5 thousand Buddhist temples and pagodas in Vietnam. About 40,000 Vietnamese have taken the monastic vows and are trying to reach nirvana in the monasteries. At what age can one take the vow of a monk? What do people in saffron clothes eat, what benefits of civilization can enjoy, how do they communicate with women? And the answer to the most important question: how is religion in Vietnam combined with socialism and why monks commit acts of self-immolation?

1. Buddhism came to Vietnam at the end of the 6th century AD. An Indian named Vinitaruchi organized the first school here. A few centuries later, two more Buddhist schools will appear, organized by immigrants from China. Now every tenth Vietnamese professes Buddhism - this is about 9 million people.

2. At what age can one become a monk? You can become a novice of the monastery at the age of seven, but you can take the vow of a monk only at 20 years from the moment of conception, i.e. at 19 years and 3 months from the date of birth. Buddhist monks can be both men and women. Monks can take a vow and return home, do important things, help the family and go back to the monastery. Such a "vacation" is due to a monk no more than three times in his entire life. The vow of a monk (the oath he takes at the time of initiation) is forever. Those who give up monasticism and return to secular life are condemned by society.

3. Why do monks shave their heads? Renunciation of material wealth, simplicity in everything - this is one of the ways to achieve nirvana. Every Buddhist aspires to this state. On the way to knowledge, nothing should distract. Little things like washing your hair, drying and styling your hair - take up a lot of time that can be devoted to internal self-improvement.

4. What do Buddhist monks wear in Vietnam? The clothes of all Buddhist monks are somewhat similar to each other. Usually the robe consists of three parts: the upper cape, which covers the body and the left shoulder (the right usually remains open), the inner sarong, which wraps the lower half of the torso. Vietnamese Buddhist monks in the north of the country (in cold regions) have another piece of clothing - a tippet for the upper body. They are also allowed to wear socks and sweaters. You can read more about monastic robes in different countries here.

Traditionally, monastic clothes are dyed in shades of curry, cumin or saffron. Also monks can be dressed in gray or black.

5. Modest belongings: what can monks own? The less material things there are in the life of a monk, the better. But still there are little things, the use of which is not at all considered shameful: needles for sewing, razors for haircuts, ballpoint pens, watches and even a flashlight. But all these things should be simple and useful, and not be part of the image. But monks are just people, and there are no ideal people. We met monks in Vietnam with cigarettes in their mouths or talking on mobile phones. But is it worth condemning for such innocent pranks? Remember pot-bellied priests with gold kilo chains on cool foreign cars in Russia or Ukraine.

6. Is it true that monks should not eat after noon? The teaching allows the monks to eat only at certain times - from dawn to 12 noon. Then, until the evening sleep, Buddhist monks should not eat, you can only drink water.

7. Are all monks vegetarians? It is impossible to record all Buddhist monks without exception as vegetarians. Rather, this is a delusion of Europeans who are far from Buddhism. In the holy books, it is only forbidden to eat the carcasses of certain wild animals, such as elephants and tigers. Vegetarianism is welcome, but not a dogma. For example, a monk may well afford to eat a piece of meat that was presented to him by the laity. But if a monk suspects that the animal was killed specifically for its treat, then he must refuse. However, you can also meet strict vegetarians in monasteries in the south of Vietnam.

8. Relationships with the Opposite Sex: Monks and Women. Monks take a vow of celibacy and abstinence from any sexual relationship. Not only sex is considered a serious crime, but also any talk about it or even hints. So that no one suspects sins, male monks should not be left alone with women. If such a meeting is necessary, for example, in the interests of the community, then there must be another witness who, in which case, will confirm the purity of this conversation.

9. How does Buddhism survive in socialist Vietnam? It is worth saying that the majority of Vietnamese - about 80 percent - are atheists or supporters of the cult of ancestors. Due to the fact that they perform their rituals in Buddhist temples, it seems that the Vietnamese are mostly Buddhists. Even some 10 years ago, the world community considered Vietnam a country in which the religious rights of the population are violated. But in 2004-2005, the country's government passed several laws prohibiting "forcing the Vietnamese to renounce their faith." Now portraits of the leader Ho Chi Minh and statuettes of Buddha coexist tolerantly on souvenir counters.

By the way, after his death, grandfather Ho, as the Vietnamese affectionately call him, became a cult figure in the religion named after himself. For example, in Vung Tau there is a pantheon of Ho Chi Minh City, in which there is a bronze bust of him on the altar. But that's another story.

10. Self-immolation of Vietnamese monks. This chilling story took place in 1963. Then the president of Vietnam was Ngo Dinh Diem - a man who will be remembered by the Vietnamese for his torture, executions and executions of civilians in the south of the country, including Buddhists. On July 11 in Saigon, Buddhists marched through the main streets of the city. One of the monks knelt down, recited a mantra, the brothers poured gasoline on him and he set himself on fire.

Photographs and even video of this self-immolation have been preserved. They show that the monk is sitting calmly in the flames of fire. By his act, he wanted to draw attention to the inhumanity of the current government. The self-immolation of Thich Quang Duc caused a great outcry. In the same year, the evil president and his brother were killed by their own entourage, and for Buddhism the heyday came. I leave you the choice to watch or not watch this shocking self-immolation video of Thich Quang Duc. You can just close the page and forget about it.

It originated in the middle of the first millennium BC in the north of India as a current that was opposed to the prevailing Brahmanism at that time. In the middle of the VI century. BC. Indian society was going through a socio-economic and cultural crisis. The tribal organization and traditional ties disintegrated, and class relations were formed. At that time, there were a large number of wandering ascetics in India, they offered their vision of the world. Their opposition to the existing order aroused the sympathy of the people. Among the teachings of this kind was Buddhism, which gained the greatest influence in.

Most researchers believe that the founder of Buddhism was real. He was the son of the head of the tribe Shakiev, born in 560g. BC. in northeast India. Tradition says that the Indian prince Siddhartha Gautama after a carefree and happy youth, he acutely felt the frailty and hopelessness of life, the horror of the idea of ​​​​an endless series of reincarnations. He left home in order to communicate with the sages to find the answer to the question: how can a person be freed from suffering. The prince traveled for seven years, and one day, when he was sitting under a tree bodhi, illumination dawned on him. He found the answer to his question. Name Buddha means "enlightened". Shocked by his discovery, he sat under this tree for several days, and then went down to the valley to the people to whom he began to preach a new doctrine. He delivered his first sermon in Benares. At first, he was joined by five of his former students, who left him when he abandoned asceticism. Subsequently, he had many followers. His ideas were close to many. For 40 years he preached in North and Central India.

Truths of Buddhism

The basic truths discovered by the Buddha were as follows.

The whole life of man is suffering. This truth is based on the recognition of the impermanence and transience of all things. Everything arises to be annihilated. Existence is devoid of substance, it devours itself, which is why in Buddhism it is designated as a flame. And only grief and suffering can be endured from the flame.

The cause of suffering is our desire. Suffering arises because man is attached to life, he craves existence. Because existence is filled with sorrow, suffering will exist as long as one lusts for life.

To get rid of suffering, you have to get rid of desire. This is possible only as a result of achieving nirvana, which in Buddhism is understood as the extinction of passions, the cessation of thirst. Is it not at the same time the cessation of life? Buddhism avoids a direct answer to this question. Only negative judgments are expressed about nirvana: it is not desire and not consciousness, not life and not death. This is a state in which one is freed from the transmigration of souls. In later Buddhism, nirvana is understood as bliss, consisting in freedom and spiritualization.

To get rid of desire, one must follow the eightfold path of salvation. It is the definition of these steps on the path to nirvana that is the main one in the teachings of the Buddha, which is called middle way that avoids the two extremes of indulgence in sensual pleasures and the torture of the flesh. This teaching is called the Eightfold Path of Salvation because it indicates eight states by mastering which a person can achieve purification of the mind, tranquility and intuition.

These are the states:

• correct understanding: one should believe the Buddha that the world is full of sorrow and suffering;
• right intentions: you should firmly determine your path, limit your passions and aspirations;
• correct speech: you should watch your words so that they do not lead to evil - speech should be truthful and benevolent;
• right actions: one should avoid non-virtuous deeds, restrain oneself and do good deeds;
• right way of life: one should lead a worthy life, without harming the living;
• right effort: you should follow the direction of your thoughts, drive away all evil and tune in to good;
• right thoughts: it should be understood that evil is from our flesh;
• proper focus: one should constantly and patiently train, achieve the ability to concentrate, contemplate, go deep in search of truth.

The first two steps signify the attainment of wisdom or prajna. The next three - moral behavior - sewed. And finally, the last three are the discipline of the mind or samadha.

However, these states cannot be understood as rungs of a ladder that a person masters gradually. Everything is connected here. Moral conduct is necessary to achieve wisdom, and without mental discipline we cannot develop moral conduct. Wise is he who acts compassionately; compassionate is he who acts wisely. Such behavior is impossible without the discipline of the mind.

On the whole, it can be said that Buddhism brought to personal aspect, which was not previously in the Eastern worldview: the assertion that salvation is possible only through personal determination and willingness to act in a certain direction. In addition, Buddhism clearly shows idea of ​​the need for compassion to all living beings - an idea most fully embodied in Mahayana Buddhism.

Main branches of Buddhism

The early Buddhists were only one of many heterodox sects competing at the time, but their influence increased over time. Buddhism was supported primarily by the urban population: rulers, warriors, who saw in it an opportunity to get rid of the supremacy of the Brahmins.

The first followers of the Buddha gathered in some secluded place during the rainy season and, waiting for this period, formed a small community. Those who joined the community usually renounced all property. They were called bhikshu which means "beggar". They shaved their heads, dressed in rags, mostly yellow, and had only the bare necessities with them: three pieces of clothing (top, bottom and cassock), a razor, a needle, a belt, a sieve to filter water, choosing insects from it (ahimsa) , toothpick, begging cup. Most of the time they spent wandering, collecting alms. They could only eat until noon and only vegetarian. In the cave, in an abandoned building, the bhikkhus lived through the rainy season, conversing on pious topics and practicing self-improvement. Near their habitats, the dead bhikkhus were usually buried. Subsequently, monuments-stupas (dome-shaped structures-crypts with a tightly walled entrance) were erected at their burial sites. Various structures were built around these stupas. Later, monasteries arose near these places. The charter of monastic life was formed. When the Buddha was alive, he himself explained all the complex issues of the teaching. After his death, the oral tradition continued for a long time.

Shortly after the death of the Buddha, his followers convened the first Buddhist council to canonize the teachings. The purpose of this cathedral, which took place in the city Rajagrih, was to work out the text of the message of the Buddha. However, not everyone agreed with the decisions taken at this council. In 380 BC a second council was called in Vaishali in order to resolve any disagreements.

Buddhism flourished during the reign of the emperor Ashoka(III century BC), thanks to the efforts of which Buddhism became the official state ideology and went beyond the borders of India. Ashoka did a lot for the Buddhist faith. He erected 84 thousand stupas. During his reign, the third council was held in the city Pataliputra, which approved the text of the sacred books of Buddhism, which amounted to tipitaka(or Tripitaka), and a decision was made to send missionaries to all parts of the country, up to Ceylon. Ashoka sent his son to Ceylon, where he became an apostle, converting many thousands of people to Buddhism and building many monasteries. It is here that the southern canon of the Buddhist church is affirmed - Hinayana, which is also called Theravada(the teaching of the elders). Hinayana means "small vehicle or narrow path of salvation."

In the middle of the last century BC. in the north-west of India, the Scythian rulers created the Kushan kingdom, the ruler of which was Kanishka, an ardent Buddhist and patron of Buddhism. Kanishka convened a fourth council towards the end of the 1st century. AD in the city Kashmir. The Council formulated and approved the main provisions of a new trend in Buddhism, called mahayana -"great chariot or wide circle of salvation." Mahayana Buddhism developed by famous Indian Buddhist Nagarajuna, made many changes to the classical doctrine.

Features of the main directions of Buddhism are as follows (see table).

Main branches of Buddhism

Buddhism originated and flourished in India, but by the end of the 1st millennium AD. it loses its positions here and is supplanted by Hinduism, which is more familiar to the inhabitants of India. There are several reasons that led to this outcome:

• the development of Hinduism, which inherited the traditional values ​​of Brahmanism and modernized it;
• enmity between different branches of Buddhism, which often led to open struggle;
• a decisive blow to Buddhism was dealt by the Arabs, who conquered many Indian territories in the 7th-8th centuries. and brought Islam with them.

Buddhism, having spread in many countries of East Asia, has become a world religion that retains its influence to this day.

Sacred literature and ideas about the structure of the world

The teachings of Buddhism are expounded in a number of canonical collections, the central place among which is occupied by the Pali canon "Tipitaka" or "Tripitaka", which means "three baskets". Buddhist texts were originally written on palm leaves, which were placed in baskets. The canon is written in the language Pali. In terms of pronunciation, Pali is related to Sanskrit in the same way that Italian is related to Latin. The canon is in three parts.

1. Vinaya Pitaka, contains ethical teaching, as well as information about discipline and ceremonial; this includes 227 rules by which monks must live;
2. Sutta Pitaka, contains the teachings of the Buddha and popular Buddhist literature including " Dhammapada", which means "the path of truth" (an anthology of Buddhist parables), and " Jataku» - a collection of stories about the previous lives of the Buddha;
3. Abidhamma Pitaka, contains the metaphysical representations of Buddhism, philosophical texts that outline the Buddhist understanding of life.

The listed books from all branches of Buddhism are especially recognized by the Hinayana. Other branches of Buddhism have their own sacred sources.

Mahayana followers consider their sacred book "Prajnaparalshta Sutra(teachings on perfect wisdom). It is considered the revelation of the Buddha himself. Due to the extreme difficulty of understanding, the Buddha's contemporaries deposited it in the Serpent Palace in the middle world, and when the time was right to reveal these teachings to people, the great Buddhist thinker Nagarajuna brought them back to the world of people.

The sacred books of the Mahayana are written in Sanskrit. They include mythological and philosophical subjects. Parts of these books are Diamond Sutra, Heart Sutra And Lotus Sutra.

An important feature of the Mahayana sacred books is that Siddtarha Gautama is not considered the only Buddha: there were others before him and there will be others after him. Of great importance is the teaching developed in these books about the bodhisattva (body - enlightened, sattva - essence) - a being who is already ready to pass into nirvana, but delays this transition in order to help others. The most revered is the bodysattva Avalokitesvara.

Of great interest is the cosmology of Buddhism, since it underlies all views of life. According to the basic provisions of Buddhism, the universe has a multi-layered structure. In the center of the earthly world, which is cylindrical disk, there is a mountain Meru. She is surrounded seven concentric ring-shaped seas and as many circles of mountains dividing the seas. Outside the last mountain range is sea which is visible to people. On it lie four world islands. In the bowels of the earth are hell caves. They rise above the earth six heavens, on which 100,000 thousand gods live (the pantheon of Buddhism includes all the gods of Brahmanism, as well as the gods of other peoples). The gods have conference hall where they gather on the eighth day of the lunar month, and amusement park. Buddha is considered the main god, but he is not the creator of the world, the world exists next to him, he is as eternal as Buddha. Gods are born and die at will.

Above these six heavens 20 heavens of Brahma; the higher the celestial sphere, the easier and more spiritual life in it. The last four, which are called brahmaloka, there are no more images and no rebirths, here the blessed already taste nirvana. The rest of the world is called kamaloka. All together form the totality of the universe. There are an infinite number of such universes.

The infinite set of universes is understood not only in the geographical, but also in the historical sense. Universes are born and die. The lifetime of the universe is called kalpa. Against this backdrop of endless creation and destruction, the drama of life is played out.

However, the teaching of Buddhism deviates from any metaphysical assertion, it does not speak of infinity, nor of finiteness, nor of eternity, nor of non-eternity, nor of being, nor of non-being. Buddhism speaks of forms, causes, images - all this is united by the concept samsara, cycle of incarnations. Samsara includes all objects that arise and disappear; it is the result of former states and the cause of future actions that arise according to the law of dhamma. Dhamma- this is a moral law, a norm according to which images are created; samsara is the form in which the law is realized. Dhamma is not a physical principle of causality, but a moral world order, a principle of retribution. Dhamma and samsara are closely related, but they can be understood only in conjunction with the basic concept of Buddhism and the Indian worldview in general - the concept of karma. Karma means specific the embodiment of the law, retribution or reward for specific Affairs.

An important concept in Buddhism is the concept "apshan". It is usually translated into Russian as "individual soul". But Buddhism does not know the soul in the European sense. Atman means the totality of states of consciousness. There are many states of consciousness called scandas or dharma, but it is impossible to find the carrier of these states, which would exist by itself. The combination of skandhas leads to a certain act, from which karma grows. Skandas disintegrate at death, but karma continues to live and leads to new existences. Karma does not die and leads to the transmigration of the soul. continues to exist not because of the immortality of the soul, but because of the indestructibility of his deeds. Karma is thus understood as something material from which everything living and moving arises. At the same time, karma is understood as something subjective, since it is created by the individuals themselves. So, samsara is a form, an embodiment of karma; dhamma is a law that comes to light by itself through karma. Conversely, karma is formed from samsara, which then affects subsequent samsara. This is where dhamma comes into play. To get rid of karma, to avoid further incarnations is possible only by achieving nirvana, about which Buddhism also does not say anything definite. It is not life, but not death, not desire and not consciousness. Nirvana can be understood as a state of desirelessness, as complete peace. From this understanding of the world and human existence flow the four truths discovered by the Buddha.

Buddhist community. Holidays and rituals

The followers of Buddhism call their teaching Triratnaya or Tiratnaya(triple treasure), referring to the Buddha, dhamma (teaching) and sangha (community). Initially, the Buddhist community was a group of mendicant monks, bhikkhus. After the death of the Buddha, there was no head of the community. The unification of monks is carried out only on the basis of the word of the Buddha, his teachings. There is no centralization of the hierarchy in Buddhism, with the exception of a natural hierarchy - by seniority. Communities living in the neighborhood could unite, the monks acted together, but not on command. Gradually, the formation of monasteries took place. The community united within the monastery was called sangha. Sometimes the word "sangha" denoted the Buddhists of one region or an entire country.

At first, everyone was accepted into the sangha, then some restrictions were introduced, they stopped accepting criminals, slaves, minors without the consent of their parents. Teenagers often became novices, they learned to read and write, studied sacred texts, and received a considerable education for that time. Those who entered the sangha for the duration of their stay in the monastery had to renounce everything that connected them with the world - family, caste, property - and take five vows: don't kill, don't steal, don't lie, don't commit adultery, don't get drunk; he was also required to shave off his hair and put on monastic robes. However, at any moment the monk could leave the monastery, he was not condemned for this, and he could be on friendly terms with the community.

Those monks who decided to devote their entire lives to religion underwent the rite of passage. The novice was subjected to a severe test, testing his spirit and will. Acceptance into the sangha as a monk imposed additional obligations and vows: do not sing or dance; do not sleep in comfortable beds; do not eat at the wrong time; do not acquire; do not use things that have a strong smell or intense color. In addition, there were a large number of minor prohibitions and restrictions. Twice a month - on the new moon and on the full moon - the monks gathered for mutual confessions. The uninitiated, women and laity were not allowed to these meetings. Depending on the severity of the sin, sanctions were also applied, most often expressed in the form of voluntary repentance. Four major sins entailed exile forever: carnal copulation; murder; stealing and falsely claiming that someone has superhuman strength and the dignity of an arhat.

Arhat - this is the ideal of Buddhism. This is the name of those saints or sages who have freed themselves from samsara and after death will go to nirvana. An Arhat is one who has done everything he had to do: destroyed desire, the desire for self-fulfillment, ignorance, wrong views in himself.

There were also women's monasteries. They were organized in the same way as the men's, but all the main ceremonies were performed by monks from the nearest monastery.

The monk's attire is extremely simple. He had three garments: an undergarment, an outer garment, and a cassock, the color of which is yellow in the south and red in the north. He could not take money in any case, he did not even have to ask for food, and the laity themselves had to serve it only to the monk who appeared on the threshold. The monks, who had renounced the world, every day went into the homes of ordinary people, for whom the appearance of a monk was a living sermon and an invitation to a higher life. For insulting the monks, the laity was punished by not accepting alms from them by overturning the alms bowl. If in this way a rejected layman was reconciled with the community, then his gifts were again accepted. The layman has always remained for the monk a being of a lower nature.

The monks had no real manifestations of the cult. They did not serve the gods; on the contrary, they believed that the gods should serve them, since they are saints. The monks were not engaged in any work, except for daily going for alms. Their occupations consisted of spiritual exercises, meditation, reading and copying of sacred books, performing or participating in rituals.

The Buddhist rites include the penitential assemblies already described, to which only monks are allowed. However, there are many rites in which the laity also participate. Buddhists adopted the custom of celebrating the day of rest four times a month. This holiday is called uposatha, something like Saturday for Jews, Sunday for Christians. These days the monks taught the laity and explained the scripture.

In Buddhism, there are a large number of holidays and rituals, the central theme of which is the figure of Buddha - the most important events of his life, his teachings and the monastic community organized by him. In each country, these holidays are celebrated in different ways, depending on the characteristics of the national culture. All Buddhist holidays are celebrated according to the lunar calendar, and most of the most important holidays fall on the days of the full moon, since it was believed that the full moon has a magical property to indicate to a person the need for diligence and promise liberation.

Vesok

This holiday is dedicated to three important events in the life of the Buddha: the birthday, the day of enlightenment and the day of passing into nirvana - and is the most important of all Buddhist holidays. It is celebrated on the full moon day of the second month of the Indian calendar, which falls at the end of May - beginning of June of the Gregorian calendar.

On the days of the holiday, solemn prayers are held in all monasteries and processions and processions are arranged. The temples are decorated with flower garlands and paper lanterns - they symbolize the enlightenment that came to the world with the teachings of the Buddha. On the territory of temples, oil lamps are also placed around sacred trees and stupas. The monks read prayers all night and tell believers stories from the life of the Buddha and his disciples. Lay people also meditate in the temple and listen to the instructions of the monks throughout the night. The ban on agricultural work and other activities that can harm small living creatures is observed with particular care. After the end of the festive prayer service, the laity arrange a plentiful meal for the members of the monastic community and present them with gifts. A characteristic rite of the holiday is the washing of Buddha statues with sweetened water or tea and showering them with flowers.

In Lamaism, this holiday is the most strict ritual day of the calendar, when you can not eat meat and lamps are lit everywhere. On this day, it is customary to circumambulate stupas, temples and other Buddhist shrines clockwise, spreading out on the ground. Many vow to keep a strict fast and remain silent for seven days.

Vassa

Vassa(from the name of the month in the Pali language) - seclusion during the rainy season. The preaching activity and the whole life of the Buddha and his disciples was associated with constant wanderings and wanderings. During the rainy season, which began at the end of June and ended at the beginning of September, travel was not possible. According to legend, it was during the rainy season that the Buddha first retired with his disciples in Deer Grove (Sarnath). Therefore, already at the time of the first monastic communities, the custom was established to stop during the rainy season in some solitary place and spend this time in prayer and meditation. Soon this custom became an obligatory rule of monastic life and was observed by all branches of Buddhism. During this period, the monks do not leave their monastery and engage in a deeper practice of meditation and comprehension of Buddhist teachings. During this period, the usual communication of monks with the laity is reduced.

In the countries of Southeast Asia, the laity themselves often take monastic vows during the rainy season and for three months lead the same way of life as the monks. During this period, marriages are prohibited. At the end of the period of seclusion, the monks confess their sins to each other and ask for forgiveness from their brothers in the community. Over the next month, contacts and communication between the monks and the laity are gradually restored.

Festival of Lights

This holiday marks the end of monastic retreat and is celebrated on the full moon of the ninth month of the lunar calendar (October - according to the Gregorian calendar). The holiday continues for a month. In temples and monasteries, rituals are held to mark the holiday, as well as the exit from the community of those who joined it during the rainy season. On the night of the full moon, everything is illuminated by lights, for which candles, paper lanterns, and electric lamps are used. It is said that the lights are lit to light the way for Budce, inviting him to descend from heaven after he delivered a sermon to his mother. In some monasteries, the statue of Buddha is removed from the pedestal and carried through the streets, symbolizing the descent of the Buddha to earth.

These days it is customary to visit relatives, visit each other to pay their respects and make small gifts. The celebration ends with a ceremony kathina(from Sanskrit - clothes), which consists in the fact that the laity give clothes to members of the community. One robe is solemnly presented to the head of the monastery, who then passes it on to the monk who is recognized as the most virtuous in the monastery. The name of the ceremony comes from the way the clothes were made. Pieces of fabric were stretched over the frame, and then sewn together. This frame was called kathina. Another meaning of the word kathina is "difficult", meaning the difficulty of being a disciple of the Buddha.

The kathina rite has become the only ceremony in which the laity are involved.

There are many sacred places of worship in Buddhism. It is believed that the Buddha himself identified cities as places of pilgrimage: where he was born - Capilawatta; where he reached the highest enlightenment - Gaia; where he first preached Benares; where he entered nirvana - Kushinagara.

On the streets of a modern Korean city, one can often meet strange and exotic figures from the Russian point of view - men or women with shaved heads, in gray or brown robes, which, by the way, are more reminiscent of Indian than Korean, often with large wooden rosaries. These are Buddhist monks, guardians and successors of one of the oldest Korean spiritual traditions, which, however, has recently been gradually retreating under the pressure of Christianity. These people seem to come from a distant past, but no, no, and you will see a scene that is unexpected in our opinion - a nun driving a luxurious limousine or a monk with ... player headphones. At first glance, it is strange, but sometimes you think, maybe the strength of religion lies precisely in the fact that it can adapt to any environment, any era?

Buddhism, which entered Korea in the 4th century, and since the 6th century has been considered the state religion of the country for almost a millennium, has long been the religion of monks and monasteries. According to the ideas of the original Buddhism (the Hinayana school), only monks could achieve salvation. Subsequently, this position was abandoned, but the special role of monks is still characteristic of Buddhism.

The tradition of Korean monasteries is still alive today. Unfortunately, the latest data on the number of monks that I found is ten years old. Then in Korea there were 22 thousand Buddhist monks: 14 thousand men and 8 thousand women. In modern Korean Buddhism, monks are divided into five categories, depending on the severity of their vows. Monks of the highest degree must observe no less than 250 vows.

How do people become Buddhist monks in Korea? First, a person who wants to become a monk must spend at least a year in the monastery as a novice. The novice does hard and dirty work (cleans, washes, cooks), and also studies the canons - a huge Buddhist scripture and reflects on whether he is ready to take monastic vows. However, even in the novices will not take anyone. A candidate for monks must be physically strong, he must pay off all debts, and in the event that he is not yet 20 years old, then he must obtain the official consent of his parents to enter the monastery. In addition, they will make inquiries about the future novice, find out if he is a drunkard or a gambler (both of these categories are barred from becoming monks).

If a novice has spent one year in a monastery, and during this time he behaved with dignity, then he is allowed to take a monastic vow. First, he takes the simplest, with the minimum number of restrictions, vow, but then, if he is ready for this, he can impose more strict vows on himself.

But even for a monk with a relatively small number of vows, life is not easy. First, a Buddhist monk must be poor. When Buddhist monasticism was in its infancy, about 2 millennia ago, monks were generally supposed to live by almsgiving alone. By the time Buddhism penetrated Korea, and this happened at the end of the 4th century, the former prohibitions were slightly softened, and the monks began to live only on alms, but also at the expense of the fruits of their hands, working in the monastery gardens. However, the monks also collect donations for their monasteries, which is regarded as a form of almsgiving (on the streets of Seoul and now you can often see a kneeling monk with a wooden mallet - this is how donations are collected). Monks are strictly forbidden to engage in any trade and business. The property of a monk should be very modest: 3 sets of clothes, an alms cup, a knife and chopsticks - and that's all. However, this is not all, except for the vow of poverty, there are many others. A monk should get up early, eat modestly (in many cases he cannot eat anything from noon until the next dawn), pray without ceasing, avoid harming any living creatures (even ants), and not eat meat.

But with the vow of celibacy and chastity, the situation is more complicated. Buddhism consists of several directions (not exactly called "sects" among us), which, however, in contrast to the constantly and noisily competing branches of Christianity, mutually recognize each other and do not consider supporters of the other direction as heretics. So, in some of the branches of Buddhism, monks are allowed to have wives, who, however, live outside the actual monasteries.

Korean monasteries are mainly located in the mountains, in secluded mountain gorges overgrown with forests. The day begins there early, around four in the morning, with morning prayer, and ends shortly after sunset. Tourists often appear in some monasteries, but in most cases there is no one there, only monks, rocks covered with pine trees, modest wooden buildings of the monastery, and a clear, cold river rushing swiftly along the bottom of the gorge.

Going on vacation to Thailand, it is worth getting to know the religious culture of this country. In order to always remain in the role of a tolerant guest in relation to the feelings of the hosts.

The dominant religion in Thailand is Buddhism. It is believed that about 94%-95% of Thais practice this religion. They study Buddhist teachings and live by its laws. It is the teaching of Gautama Buddha that forms the basis of worldview knowledge of the majority of the inhabitants of the country.

Buddhism in Thailand permeates all spheres of social and personal life of citizens. It also has a significant impact on their daily lives. Buddhist rituals accompany a person from birth to the end of his life. All significant religious days that are considered sacred in Buddhism are recognized as national holidays. The goal is to enable a person to devote more time to Buddhist rituals and practices.

The history of the emergence of Buddhism

It is believed that Buddhism was brought to this area around the third century BC by Buddhist missionaries. Its origin is associated with the city of Nakh Pat. One of the attractions of this city today is the second largest Buddha monument. Thai Buddhism, Theravada - one of the branches of the teachings of the Buddha. The rites and rituals in it are much clearer and simpler than in the Mahayana, Indian Buddhism.

Today, Buddhism in Thailand contributes to the social cohesion of the kingdom. The head of state is the king, he is considered the national symbol of the country, the generally recognized leader. Citizens of the state, regardless of nationality or religion, love and respect their king, idolize him.

In Thailand, it is unacceptable to speak in a disparaging tone about Buddhist religious rules and rituals. This is especially true for tourists.

Insulting the king is considered a state crime. Buddhism cultivates among the population spiritual support and morality traditional for these places. In order to avoid misunderstandings, we must respect the images of the Buddha, their temples, and the monks. As the saying goes: “You don’t go to a foreign monastery with your charter.”

Rules for visiting Buddhist temples in Thailand

There are about 32,000 Buddhist churches in Thailand. Most of them are located in rural areas. Each Thai community has its own temple and golden high stupas (shaped like children's "pyramids") at the temple complexes. All of them are fabulously beautiful.

Most temples are open for visits, as they exist at the expense of donations. Donations can be both generous and modest. It all depends on your desire and possibilities.

• It is better to come to the temple early in the morning. First, it's not hot. Secondly, you can see the monks who return after collecting alms. Considering that the monks have breakfast at nine o'clock in the morning, then you need to come very early to see all the action.

• Women are forbidden any contact with the monk. Even if it's an accidental touch on his clothes. Consider that you spoiled his karma for a long time. The monk will have to undergo an accelerated purification. You should not be offended by this, because even a mother is forbidden to touch her son-monk. If you want to give him alms, pass it through another man. If the man is not around, just put it on the floor.

• Women must cover their shoulders and knees to enter the temple. At the entrance you may be offered a scarf for this, but it is better to think about clothes in advance. Men are not allowed to wear shorts.

• Due to the large number of tourists, some temples have a more loyal dress code policy. But it is better to prepare light, comfortable appropriate clothing even before departure. After all, you can’t guess which temple you want to visit on the way.

• You will need to take off your shoes upon entering. Thais take off their shoes at the entrance to the house, and in any place where there is an image of the Buddha. In some temples located near tourist complexes, shoes can be left on. You will need to be guided by the presence of removed shoes at the entrance.

• Naturally, you need to turn off the phones, remove the headphones, chewing gum, do not talk, that is, observe the elementary rules of decency. You must remove your hat and sunglasses.

• There are many temples where you will have to greet the monks with a certain characteristic gesture. If you do not have such knowledge, first observe from the side how Buddhists do it and repeat the movements.

• The position of the feet is of great importance in the temple. It is impossible for the socks of a seated person to point to someone, especially to the Buddha. Bring your legs under you or sit in a Turkish position.

• In no case should you interfere with praying people. And the very moment of worshiping the Buddha by the monks is forbidden to film on video and cameras.

• You will have to carefully exit the temple, as it is forbidden to turn your back on the Buddha when leaving.

• Remember that the image of the Buddha is sacred to Thais. Therefore, you can not show him even the slightest disrespect. If you really want to capture yourself next to the Buddha, you can not lean on him.

Life of Buddhist monks in Thailand

In Thailand, there is a custom: men who are 20 years old can become temporary monks, take a monastic vow for a period of several days to several months. Every man is obliged to go to a monastery to comprehend the teachings of the Buddha. This usually happens during the rainy season. Those who have not performed such austerities prefer to keep it a secret. For the king and prince, an exception is also not made. This is one of the reasons why Buddhism has penetrated so deeply into the daily life of Thais.

A woman cannot become a Buddhist monk in any way, although there are more rules and commandments that she is obliged to fulfill than a male monk. True, one nunnery still exists in the province of Nakhom Pathom, but it is not officially recognized. Women can afford to be novices at the monastery. They also shave off their hair, eyebrows, but wear white clothes. Their duties include doing most of the household work.

Thai monks are respected people in the country. Early in the morning you can see a monk dressed in orange robes going from house to house or the market begging. Each person considers it his duty and great happiness to give food to the monk.

It is believed that the monks should study the teachings of the Buddha, meditate, strive for enlightenment, for the knowledge of Nirvana, and society will provide them with everything necessary for life. A monk must observe 227 precepts, in particular, he must be distinguished by chastity, restraint, tolerance and a deep knowledge of Buddhist rituals.

However, today in places popular among tourists you can see a monk with a cigarette. And in the nearest temples, money rules. And more and more often young people go to monks not at the behest of the soul, but as a sign of tradition. Yet Buddhism in Thailand is not just a religion. This is their philosophy, their attitude, which makes Thais smiling.

Representatives of other religions in Thailand

The King of Thailand is required by law to be a Buddhist. But his task is to patronize other religions. The country is characterized by freedom of religion. Therefore, in addition to Buddhist temples, you can see a Muslim mosque and a Christian temple.

Islam is the second most important religion in Thailand. It is practiced by about 4.6% of the population.

These are the inhabitants of the southern provinces. Islam appeared in the country thanks to Malaysian neighbors and Arab merchant sailors. And since the second half of the 20th century, Muslim educational institutions began to be created in Thailand, where you can get secondary and higher education. Mosques were built at a rapid pace, now there are more than 2000 of them.

Christianity is practiced by only 0.7% to 1.7% of the country's population. These are mainly residents of the northern mountainous regions. The first Christians are considered to be Armenians, Catholic missionaries who appeared in these parts in the 16th century. Today, Christianity is professed by immigrants from Europe. These are Orthodox, Catholics, Protestants. Catholics have the largest number of parishioners.

You can see Christian churches in the capital, provincial centers and big cities. Services are conducted in English, French, German and Thai.

But Orthodox Christianity is represented here by only a few parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church. Service in them can be conducted both in Russian and in Thai.

Thailand has less than 0.7% of other religions. These are people who profess Judaism, Hinduism, Sikhism. Thailand is tolerant of all religions. Therefore, followers of any religion feel comfortable here.

And now, after a busy day, the evening came. Resting, we sat quietly up to the courtyard of the hotel. The next day we were going to see the monasteries and temples of Chiang Mai. A light breeze rustled unknown Thai plants and carried the sweet smells of their flowers. In the deceptive half-light of the yellow-pink dawn, the openwork contours of trees, objects and distant mountains turned purple. The magical time of transparent evening silence has come.

And soon a million pure stars and a completely different bright moon than in our latitudes appeared in the velvet night sky. We looked into this stellar whirlpool, feeling the infinity of the Universe through which our planet flies, our entire, in general, not so huge world, feeling the fragility and brevity of human existence.

In those moments I wanted to think about the incomprehensible and boundless, sublime and eternal, and it was hard to imagine that not everything in our world is arranged ideally. Not all? And then, apparently, in combination with our plans, I remembered! Thailand is a country where there seems to be a place for any religion, where Buddhism, Christianity and Islam, the three greatest religions in the world, coexist harmoniously.

Religion in Thailand and its neighbors

The term "religion" is used to refer to human ideas about belief in God. In all corners of the world, in all countries, in all historical eras, people wondered about the meaning of life, how one should live, what happens to a person after death, is there someone or something “out there”, according to that side of life. Different religions gave people different answers.

It is known that multi-religious Thailand borders with the following countries - Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar. And what religions do its closest neighbors practice?

Ask any person between the ages of 20 and 120 what is the religion in Thailand? And you will hear that the religion of Thailand is Buddhism.

Why should such an answer follow, instead of the expected list of confessions existing here? You are certainly right if you decide that the whole point is in the number of their adherents.

The table shows that most of Thailand's population are Buddhists, then almost 5% are Muslims, and all this is complemented by a handful of Christians, Sikhs and Hindus.

Islamic percentages are residents of the south of the country, located in close proximity to the Malaysian border. Separatist sentiments are strong among them. In some places in the provinces, local Muslims argue with weapons in their hands the need to create an independent Islamic state.

As you can see, there are very few Christians in Thailand. Perhaps this is due to the fact that it was the religion of the invaders. Almost all the countries of Southeast Asia were captured by France and England, the independence of Siam from the 16th century literally hung in the balance.

All this has given rise to a historical prejudice that is difficult to overcome, that it is Christianity that threatens the sovereignty of the Thai nation. It is also impossible to discount the too different mental perception of the world and man among the representatives of Christianity and Buddhism.

Orthodoxy in Thailand

To be born Thai is to be born a Buddhist.

However, the modern average Thai is Buddhist in the same way that most Europeans are Christians. Mostly people observe religious rituals, but only a few of them follow all the rules of Buddhism. However, although the modern inhabitants of the country of Thailand are not too religious, but, nevertheless, the importance of religion is still great, both in family life and in society.

In this country, even the reckoning is conducted from the day of the death of the Buddha, which, according to our reckoning, occurred in 543 BC. Therefore, our current 2014 is the year 2557 for Thailand.

In accordance with the Constitution of the country, the symbol of the nation - the king of Thailand, is the protector and patron of all religions. At the same time, the Thai monarch himself must certainly be a Buddhist, since the state religion of Thailand is Buddhism, based on the teachings of Theravada.

Traditionally, the language of religion in Thailand is Pali. You can read more about the ancient Pali, the Tripitaka stone book and Theravada Buddhism at.

The Buddhist religion is based on the ethics of karma, according to which, if you do good things, then good things will happen to you. Its peaceful and accepting nature is largely a philosophy of life, its main postulates are aimed at love, tolerance, respect for others.

How wonderful it is to show love and respect to others and receive them back!

And how are things with Orthodoxy in Thailand? Surprisingly, there are only 1 Orthodox monastery and 7 Orthodox parishes in Thailand now, and one more is planned to open in Chiang Mai.

And this is surprising because in the second half of the 19th century - the beginning of the 20th, close friendly relations began between our countries, such that even one of the crown princes of Siam was married to an Orthodox Russian. Read about this extraordinary love story.

Monks in Thailand

They are found everywhere, but they are especially numerous in the early morning hours, when it is time to collect alms. The sight of shaven-headed, barefoot, orange-robed novices and Buddhist monks inevitably reminds foreigners that Thailand is a country where Buddhism is the dominant force in human life.

Most Thai men spend some period of their lives as monks. It can be several weeks, months or years, depending on the desire of a particular person. They leave their families, business, duties and detachedly live at this time at the temple, undergoing training there.

The current King Bhumibol Adulyadej was a monk in 1956, and his son, Crown Prince Maha Watjiralongkorn, took the ordination in 1978. Even today, the Thai government allows any civil servant to take 3 months of fully paid leave in order to be a monk during this time!

Monks are extremely revered in Thai society, perhaps even more so than members of the royal family! At airports and buses - special places are reserved for them, they use public transport for free, the voluntary and very generous alms they collect in the morning are a sign of respect and devotion of the Thais, who thereby perform a good deed that improves karma. Before starting a new business, moving to a new house, or even buying a new motorcycle, Thais ask the monks for blessings, without which, it is believed, it is impossible to achieve good luck and prosperity.

Monks, like all people, are not without weaknesses and shortcomings, the strict monastic charter helps them control the manifestation of which (227 commandments and rules!), And meditation is called upon to get rid of the passions and desires that gnaw at a person and prevent them from reaching Nirvana. Although its importance is obvious to any Thai, the number of people who actually practice it is perhaps not much greater than in Western countries. Even among monks, the popularity of meditation practices is not particularly great. Those of them who are seriously engaged in meditation, as a rule, live in remote monasteries in the jungle.

Monastic clothes are a symbol of poverty. However, life as a monk for many Thais, who come from peasant families, is a step up the social ladder, it is an opportunity for a much more satisfying and comfortable existence. Thai monks do not work, they have enough free time, so they willingly communicate on all sorts of, often not burdensome, topics with visitors to monasteries. They are also happy to practice with foreigners in English.

Buddhist nuns

Thai women make up an estimated 51 percent of the country's population. They were among the first women in Asia to be granted the right to vote. However, when it comes to religion, women in Thailand continue to fight for equality.

Theravada Buddhism was once introduced by monastic communities for both men and women. “Monk” in Pali is “bhikkhu” (biggu), a female monk is “bhikkuni” (pronounced bigguni or bhikkuni). But at present, women cannot become full-fledged monks wearing yellow monastic robes. In Thailand, women are not ordained, there are no female monastic communities.

Although there is one exception in the country - Reverend Dhammananda Bhikkhuni - the abbess of the first nunnery Songdhammakalyani in Thailand.

She was ordained in Sri Lanka, from where she returned to her homeland in order to raise the religious status of women here, to fight gender inequality when Buddhist women choose monastic service. “Women have always contributed to Buddhism because they are the ones who actually feed the monks. Walk into any temple in Thailand and 80 percent of those on duty are women! They are the true foundation that supports Buddhism in this country,” says Dhammananda.

But while in Thailand, women can become just novices and wear white clothes. Approximately 15,000 nuns in Thailand shave their heads and wear similar robes. They take vows, undergo initiation like monks, meditate, study the Dharma, lead a strict and unpretentious monastic life, but, unlike monks, they cannot perform Buddhist ceremonies.

And female monks in Thailand do not enjoy any particularly respectful attitude. Perhaps even the attitude towards them is not respectful enough. Not having their own monasteries, they live modestly in a corner of the male. Usually these are orphans and widows. Their life goes on in continuous work.

Buddhist monasteries and temples in Thailand

“Wat” literally means temple. Therefore, this term is quite possible to use not only in relation to the Buddhist religious center, but also to Muslim mosques or Christian churches.

The same word refers to the monastery.

However, most often, the term Wat in Thailand means not only the temple, but also the monastery that is part of it.

In general, Wat is a typical set of several religious buildings of different functionality. Here are the main ones:

1. Bot or Ubosot is one of the most important buildings of the temple, intended for the most important ceremonies. Therefore, its interior is the most beautiful: inside it is decorated with paintings, outside it has white walls surrounded by a colonnade, windows and doors are finished in red, on its tiled roof there are images of guarding formidable dragons and divine nagas. It contains the most revered Buddha statues. Usually this structure is located in the center of the temple territory. There can be only one Bot or Ubosot in the temple. The difference between these two varieties of the main building is that Ubosot is lined with stone border markers in the form of leaves along its outer border. The latter were called so - Bai, which in Thai means - leaves.
2. Vihan (Vihara) - a more modest design, but a larger structure, also with Buddha statues inside. It is intended for prayers of monks and parishioners, for meetings, lectures, donations are made here to the Buddha. There may be several similar structures in one Vata.
3. Chedi or Prang are varieties of stupas (pagodas). Chedi is cone-shaped or bell-shaped with a high spire, while Prang is more like an ear of corn. This is an extremely important element of the monastery of Thailand. Stupas are designed to store sacred Buddhist relics, or the ashes of kings or prominent religious figures. This is the most sacred and important structure of Wat.
4. Mondop or hotrai are two types of structures for storing sacred scriptures, relives, and images. By appointment close to the library. The first type is a building in the form of a square, the second type is a building on piles, such a design ensured the best safety of precious papers.
5. Kuti - this is the name of the room or area of ​​​​the territory where the monks live.
6. Sala is a building resembling a gazebo, it is good to meditate, listen to lectures or just relax, hiding from the hot sun.

Stupa, Viharn and bot are built first. After that, depending on the financial possibilities and the number of monks, other structures are created.

Since ancient times, temples have played a significant role in many aspects of Thai society.

It was not only a place of worship, but also an educational center, where schools were located, and a place where the sick were treated. Wat served the community as homes for the elderly and the destitute. Here was the center of Thai art and architecture. The temple was a meeting place for young people and even a kind of entertainment center where people enjoyed Thai folk operas or classic Thai dance dramas. The social life of the rural community has always revolved around the Wat.

Now there are more than 30 thousand monasteries and more than 300 thousand monks in the country. The most significant temples in the country have the status of Royal, there are about 200 of them, the most important and sacred of them is Wat Phra Kaew in Bangkok, and in the north, in Chiang Mai -.

Rules for visiting Buddhist temples in Thailand

• Clothing for visiting a temple in Thailand should be modest, covering the shoulders and knees. You don't need to cover your head here. Shoes are removed before entering.
• Mobile phones should be turned off in the temple, one should not speak loudly, make noise, children should not run.
• All images of the Buddha are considered sacred and require respectful treatment. You can not hug them, lean on them. You can not turn your feet towards the Buddha statue. Don't turn your back on the altar.
• Use only your right hand when you need to give or receive something from a monk.
• Women are not allowed to touch the monks, even donations should be passed to them through a man. And monks never touch women, including even their own mother.

Buddha and fish

Among the multitude of all his countless rebirths, once the Buddha had to live the life of a fish. And, probably, there was something so special in his life, since Buddhists, mindful of this reincarnation of him, create special ponds with fish. Often such reservoirs are arranged near temples, in parks, there was even a similar one in the Chiang Mai Zoo. And anyone can feed their inhabitants and thereby improve their karma.

We watched for a long time how the fish, fattened, accustomed to plentiful treats, huddle in a dense heap in the place of the pond where they throw food, open their mouths and wait. And here comes this delightful moment of fish happiness and a dump instantly begins in the water. Thick silvery bodies, with the intention of grabbing and swallowing the offered deliciousness to the maximum, mercilessly push, snatch something from each other, move, following their own strategic considerations, in an impatient pursuit of luck, soar from their water element to the air element.

For some reason unknown to me, such a cute pond with fish sunk into my soul and, with a whimsical association, inextricably linked in my memory with the Buddha, the creator of the main religion of Thailand ... I look at a photograph of living silver scurrying in the water, the chain of memories stretches further, and I , as if in reality, I see a Buddhist temple in Thailand and friendly smiling monks in saffron robes ...

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