Visitors coming to Thailand from the West arrive with preconceived notions about how the world thinks, many of which are incorrect. One such notion is that most of the world is Christian—in fact, it is not. In Thailand, try as they might, Christian missionaries have spent the past two hundred years or so failing miserably at converting this happily Buddhist nation. The second misconception stems from the first, and that is that the marvelous Buddhist temples that dot the landscape are tourist attractions.

The temples are architectural marvels, delights to behold, standing out against the tropical background of coconut trees and perhaps the occasional monkey. They are wonderful to look at, but they are, in fact, working temples where people come to socialize, meditate, hold spiritual and religious ceremonies, and do all the things people usually do at temples. That said, the Thai people, as well as the monks that live there, are very open and welcoming to outsiders, and won’t mind at all if you want to come in and have a look around. Photographs are usually allowed, although it is polite to ask the presiding monk before snapping pictures. Permission is almost always granted. There may be people lighting incense, praying, or meditating, so try not to be too conspicuous or noisy. If you take a picture of the Buddha image, be respectful. Don’t pose next to it, or take pictures when there are people lighting incense, praying, or paying respect to the Buddha. Everybody wants to take pictures of the monks in their colorful robes, but once again, ask permission first. Before you enter any of the temple buildings, remove your shoes. Come dressed appropriately and modestly. No shorts, and keep your legs and arms covered.

You will encounter Buddhist monks almost everywhere. It is customary for almost every male to become a monk for at least a few months, and doing so brings honor to one’s family. If you are in a residential neighborhood close to a temple, and you are able to drag yourself out of bed early enough, you will witness a singularly beautiful ritual that is carried out every single day. The monks, clad in their saffron-colored robes, start their day by walking through the residential area, with their begging bowls in hand. Children, men getting ready for work, and housewives preparing the morning meal, all step out of their humble homes and wait with a bowl of rice or other food, flowers, bottled water or other small gifts. When the monks walk by, they distribute some of their food to each monk. Sometimes a monk will stop to issue a blessing if it is requested, and you will hear the peaceful, rhythmic chanting as they go on their way.


Buddhism is an inclusive belief system. Unlike Christianity or Islam, Buddhists do not believe that theirs is the only “true” path, and therefore the idea of evangelism is strange to them. You won’t find Buddhists going door to door with pamphlets, or preaching on streetcorners, or trying to convert you. What you will find are people who are happy to explain their belief system to you if you express an interest, and who welcome a friendly visit from anyone, whether Christian, Jew, Muslim, Hindu, or member of any other belief system in the world.