Buddhism and challenges in ASEAN Community

Abstract

Buddhism is professed by the most of Thais. It is the fundamental for the way of life and for Thai culture. In the meantime, Thailand has been entered and united with Asean Community along with other Asean neighboring countries of which some of them are non-Buddhists. This can be both challenging and opportunity for Thailand. The main theme of the thesis is to find out the linkage to be joining together between Thailand and other membership countries on the topics of the way of life and the Thai culture. Thai Buddhism by nature is the blend of various elements such as animism magic sacrifice and worship of different forms. This is a big challenging not only for Thais who have professed to various forms of Buddhism, but also to people in various Asean countries who have faith on various religions. By mutual understanding on each other faiths, Asean countries can get to their goals, for example, to empower the influence in negotiating and capacity in competition in interregional, to enhance in coping with new global problems effecting to the region such as global warming, terrorism. In summary, to be Asean community is to be ‘one family’ with strength and good immunity. Its membership is saved, well to do and can do commercial among themselves easily.