Internal Perspective of the Thai Monks and Society on the Relationship between the State and Buddhism

Abstract

State and Buddhism seen in the angle of monks and society in Thai society is the explaining of relationship between Thai state and Buddhism through the bonds of monks and Thai state which Thai society consists of three major constitutions; State, Religion, and King. The objective of this article is to indicate the bonds of monks and state. Both of them are key constitutions of Thai society, state is representative of a nation, monks a religion. Monks and Thai state have been bonding for long, Thai state always protect Buddhist and its monks while monks keep teaching the citizen to have moralities and remind what their duties are, this continues as a life style of Thai society. Monks, therefore, have a big role and influence to society and Thai state via tradition and festival such as birthday ceremony and funeral. Monks’ role to society and Thai state can be separated in characteristics; 1) to be a spiritual leader; 2) to be a social mentor; 3) to be a government official. The three characteristics still exit in monkhood in Thailand; hence monk is a spiritual leader, a social mentor, a government official in the same time.