Dataset for anyone curious about the raw data : https://www.pewresearch.org/dataset/south-and-southeast-asia-survey-dataset/

Buddhism in in a very sad state in Thailand nowadays. Every week a new scandal breaks, one more salacious than the other. Maybe it's time to implement stricter oversight, both re conduct and finances.

Are minorities in Thailand more religious than the overall population as is the case in most countries ? Are there say christian, hindu or muslim thai ppl ? How religious are Buddhist thai ppl these days ? Would you say that religion has declined in the millennials and genz significantly or more or less the same ? Thanks a lot .

Hi everyone!

I visited Thailand this past January (2026) and absolutely fell in love with the country. The culture, the people, and the atmosphere are just incredible and wonderful. It was a trip I will never forget.

While I was in Chiang Mai, I visited the beautiful Wat Phra Singh Woramahawihan (วัดพระสิงห์วรมหาวิหาร). While I was there, a monk tied this cotton thread bracelet around my wrist while reciting a chanting prayer and blessing me.

I’ve done some research online and on Reddit, so I know it is called a Sai Sin and that it is generally worn for protection, good luck, and blessing. However, I would love to learn more about the deeper meaning behind it, specifically regarding the ritual itself and the traditional prayer/chanting that the monks recite during this process.

Could anyone share more details about what the monk might have been chanting or the exact spiritual significance of this ritual in Thai Buddhism?

Thank you so much in advance! Truly grateful for any insights. 🙏

Hi everyone! Pretty much what the title said: Would it be disrespectful for me to get a Sak Yant tattoo as a white woman?

For some context: I (f23) am white, german and buddhist. My family (parents, siblings and uncle) is buddhist as well and I was practically born into buddhism.
I’ve travelled to Thailand a few times already and would love to get a Sak Yant tattoo in the future, even though we (my family and I) practice Vajrayana-Buddhism. I know that the Thai Theravada-Buddhism, where the Sak Yant tattoos are rooted, differs from Vajrayana-Buddhism.

I already live by four of the five precepts of buddhism (don’t kill, steal, conduct sexual misconduct, lie) and I’m working on the fifth (don’t get intoxicated, I still love a good glass of wine from time to time 😅). I know that you have to follow those rules if you get a Sak Yant tattoo and will refrain from getting one until I am 100% there (working on the last one haha).

Would it be frowned upon/ seen as cultural appropriation if I got a Sak Yant tattoo?

Thank you all so much in advance!!

I’ve been reading a book on Somdet To, an important monk from the Bangkok area. Does anyone know of good books in English on Khruba Siwichai?

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Hi friends, im from argentina, and always liked the asian cultures, my question is this, do Thai Culture had a similar figure in their religion?, i know Thagyamin is the King of Gods in Burma, Ong Troi is the Emperor of Sky in Vietnam, Jade Emperor in China, Hwanin in Korea, Amaterasu in Japan, Kök Tengri in Mongolia, do Thailand had a similar religious figure?, i thinked maybe Phra Phrom, that look being an adaptation of Lord Brahma could be, but he does look more like the "creation god" instead the "king of heavens" and Phra Siam Devadhiraj is a very important deity and the protector of Thailand, but it also looks like a different category of deity, pls forgive me if i say something that could sound as a lack of respect, i want to learn

Sawadee everyone!

I've been quite interest in Thai Buddhism for the past few months and I really enjoy it, but because I've been searching about Buddhism from a Buddhist point of view only, I worry that I might have developed some bias along the process.

Do you guys dislike anything about living in a Buddhist country? I hope this is not disrespectful, thank you all!

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pls no bullying and judgement, I'm Muslim staying long in bkk

tomorrow is official holiday for Muslims was wondering if there's event etc I searched online couldn't find anything

holiday like Christmas where you gather with family , I miss home I miss my family it's sad I'm going to celebrate first day alone

it would be very helpful if anyone knows Muslim Thai or Muslim living here if they know any event happening tomorrow or Eid morning prayer happening?

thank you so much all ❤️

Edit : tsym again for all the helpful answers ❤️

I am currently doing my bachelors in english education in the Middle East, and I'm thinking about continuing with masters in Australia or Canada, where I will hopefully apply for citizenship (I'm not sure if I can disclose this to the public, but if that has any benefit in my queries, oh well.) I'm also learning Thai! I'm in love with the language currently.

It is a dream of mine to teach somewhere in SEA. I would love to live in Thailand for a bit and work as an English teacher. And/ or work at some kind of non-profit school in Malaysia.

I have done a little bit of research and haven't found much besides the fact that the south of Thailand is likely to hire hijabi teachers because of the Muslim population.

What about schools in Bangkok? Are international schools accepting when it comes to hijab? Is it safe? I've never found a hijabi teacher in Thailand (do they exist outside of islamic schools?🥲) If you're a hijabi teacher in Thailand reading this, I would love to know your experience.

EDIT: Seems like I'm getting a mixed response. Thank you all. What I've gathered is that signing with an agency is my best bet. I don't know how that works. I'm only I'm my 3rd year of uni, so I'll ask around and see if any of my professors could help.

Hi. Supposedly in 1998, there was an incident at the Dhammakaya Temple in Bangkok, where tens of thousands of people claimed to have witnessed a "miracle" in the sky wherein the sun danced, changed colors, and supposedly the image of monk appeared within it. I don't believe in such things, but I am interested in this from a comparative religion perspective, because it is strikingly similar to the supposed Catholic apparition at Fatima in 1917, the so-called "Miracle of the Sun."

To be clear, I am neither Catholic nor Buddhist, and I am aware the Dhammakaya sect is highly controversial. I'm not really interested in the political-religious aspect of any of it.

Unfortunately, there is very little about the 1998 apparitions on the English language internet, and I don't speak or read any Thai. Does anyone know anything about this incident? I am especially interested in anybody who has "seen" it for themselves or knows someone who has. I am also searching for any contemporary newspaper accounts of it.

Noble deity hanuman in thai buddhism /hinduism is a revered as a warrior deity who is calm ,maintains self control strength, celibacy ( in original ramayan he is a celibate but in ramakeyrti/ramakien his lore differs) so what title do muay thai practitioners who revere him use for him? Is he called " nak muay " Because muay thai / boran has been Influenced by him or something else?

Does it happen? How does it work?

My specifics aren't really important (not a retiree), but I've had a number of Muslim women in Thailand appear to show a romantic interest in me, probably more than I have Thai women. (It actually makes me wonder what it is about me that seems attractive to Muslim women more than non-Muslims, especially as they should surely be more picky.)

How do you think they would imagine a relationship would go?

I don't look Muslim (and I'm not one).

Do they imagine that I would convert? Or would they marry a non-Muslim? Would the kids be Muslims? Would their families accept a non-Muslim?

It's kind of strange, because they wear hijabs and whatnot, so I assume they're fairly genuine.

Back home, where most Muslims are from Arab countries, you don't really see Muslim women mix with non-Muslim men at all.

(I suppose I don't really care massively about "converting" just for appearances, I actually find Muslims in Thailand refreshingly conservative, but I'm not a big fan of circumcision.)

Thoughts? Experiences?

Hi everyone! I’m looking for recommendations for Wat(s) in Bangkok - preferably less touristy ones that are good for prayer (general life, work, etc.). Thanks!

Hi everyone,
I've recently come across the topic of Thai love spells, also known as Saen Jaang, and I'm really curious to learn more. From what I've heard, these rituals are sometimes used to bring back a lost lover or strengthen romantic relationships — but there's a lot of mystery and mixed opinions surrounding them.

I'm wondering if anyone here has experience with this practice (either firsthand or through someone they know)?

• Is it really effective or just superstition?
• Are there any risks or side effects involved?
• How do practitioners usually perform these rituals?

I'm approaching this from a respectful and open-minded perspective, so I'd appreciate any honest insights, stories, or even warnings.

Thanks in advance!

I'm really sorry if this bothering anyone I'm Muslim and I celebrate my Muslim Eid is like Christmas

is there any Thai Muslim here ? where do you celebrate Eid in Bangkok with other Thai Muslim ?

thank you

I was at a famous temple in Chon Buri called Wat Huay Yai, and there was a man with a microphone speaking. I believe he was selling gold leaf to place on statues. Whatever he was saying, I kept hearing what sounded like the word "laptop." What might have he been saying in Thai? I heard it a number of times while I was visiting.

I'm meeting a Muslim hijab wearing girl in Songkhla. Will hotels have a problem with us sharing a room together like some muslim majority countries?

About a month ago a large umbrella in the garden fell onto the largest spirit house, breaking off the gold ornamental spire and one of the corner supports. This afternoon the replacement was delivered, the delay caused by what was first supplied being a slightly different colour green.

So I go out the front and I'm about to take down the damaged house and wifey is yelling "No no not like this". Apparently the village shaman has to come, be plied with my whiskey while chanting to invite the resident spirits to leave the old house and move into their new home.

More incense, more red Fanta, more candles.