Buddhism and cultural identity of Thai Song Dam central region

Abstract

Thai Song Dam is an ethnic minority with its significant identity religion consists of spirit worship, and the spirits of ancestors are especially important to Thai Song Dam people culture.

          Since Thai Song Dam ethnic population has been living in Thailand for a while then they have applied Buddhism as well as the local of dominantly Thai people in term of getting to know on what are Buddhism ceremony protocols and also experienced in Dharma. Today they still believe in both worship spirits of ancestors and Buddhism. The old belief tradition of worship spirits of ancestors leads and maintains them on good thought of be grateful to parents and ancestors, together with Buddhism Dharma to maintain their beautiful minds of being calm, honest, patience, unity, humbleness, kindness, discipline and sufficiency by applying Buddhism’s doctrine of “Ongbak 4”, “The Four Principles Virtuous Existence”, “Apologetics 7”, “Pure Thought 6”, “The Fifth Infantry”, “Six Directions”, “Auspicious 38”, “Middle Path”, “Individualism”, “Three Fold Guides” and “Modesty Patch”.