Theravada Buddhism in Thailand and Burma
The Buddhism of Thailand and Burma is different from the varieties of Japanese, Chinese, and Tibetan Buddhism that may be more familiar to visitors. The Thai and Burmese followed a tradition known as Theravada, “the way of the elders,” that reached mainland Southeast Asia from Sri Lanka.
Theravada Buddhism focuses not on cosmic Buddhas and bodhisattvas, but—as can be seen in many artworks in the exhibition—on the historical Buddha, his life some 2500 years ago, and the previous lives he led in preparation for achieving Buddhahood. The Buddha’s teachings, as transmitted through the holy texts and the monks, are thought to relieve the suffering of individuals as well as lead to a more harmonious society.
The monkhood is very important, and even a small village has a monastery where a few monks live. Becoming a monk is not necessarily a lifetime commitment; many young men become monks for a short period and then return to their everyday lives.
Theravada Buddhists, like other Buddhists, assume that all living creatures are reborn countless times, and that the cycle of birth, dying, and being born again is a source of unhappiness. The ultimate goal is reaching nirvana—liberation from this cycle. But reaching nirvana is thought to require many lifetimes. A more immediate goal is often to earn rebirth in more comfortable circumstances in the next life. One of the primary means to achieve this goal is to exercise the virtue of charity by making donations to monks and monasteries.
The Life of the Buddha
The life of the Buddha as known in Thailand and Burma follows the general
outlines of the story familiar in other parts of the Buddhist world. There
are a number of incidents, however, and many details, that are peculiar
to Thailand or Burma, or shared only with the other Theravada Buddhist countries
of Southeast Asia, namely Cambodia and Laos. A prime example occurs during
the victory of the Buddha-to-be over the demon Mara: as the story is recounted
everywhere, the goddess of the earth rises to attest to the perfected virtues
of the Buddha-to-be, but only in mainland Southeast Asia does she then wring
out her hair, creating a flood to inundate Mara and his forces.
