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BUDDHISM IN THAILAND

ITS PAST AND ITS PRESENT

KARUNA KUSALASAYA

People all over the world who are interested in Buddhism and keep in touch with its news and activities must have heard of the Buddha Jayanti celebrations held a few years ago in all Buddhist countries including India and Japan. It was in 1957 or, according to the reckoning of some Buddhist countries, in 1956, that Buddhism, as founded by Gotama the Buddha, had completed its 2500 years of existence. The Buddhist tradition, especially of the Theravada or Southern School such as now prevails in Burma, Ceylon, Cambodia, Laos and Thailand, has it that on the completion of 2500 years of its foundations, Buddhism would undergo a great revival, resulting in its all-round progress, both in the fields of studies and practice. Buddhist throughout the world, therefore, commemorated the occasion in 1956-57 by various kinds of activities such as meeting symposiums, exhibitions and publication of Buddhist texts and literature.

Whether or not the tradition mentioned above has any truth behind it, future alone can testify. However, judging from news received from all corners of the globe, it is no exaggeration to say that mankind is taking an ever-increasing interest in Buddhism. As matter of fact, since the end of the Second World War interest in Buddhism as evinced by people of Europe, America, and Australia has reached a scale unheard of before. Any casual perusal of journals on Buddhism in any of these continents will convince the readers of this statement. It is a matter worth noticing that after the end of the First World War also, Buddhism made a great headway in Europe and elsewhere. This phenomenon can perhaps be best explained by the fact that man`s spiritual thirst is more sharpened by calamities like war, and that times of distress man realises Truth better.

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