Most of Thailand's Teens Won't Go to Temples

18 February 2003

by Daranee Duangmanee

Most Thai Buddhist teenagers are no longer interested in going to temples or taking part in religious activities, according to a Suan Dusit poll released on February 15, 2003. In a survey of 2,177 teenagers, aged 15-20, just ahead of Makha Bucha Day the following day, the Suan Dusit Rajabhat Institute found that 63 per cent of respondents had no plans to visit temples on the Buddhist holiday. The poll started on February 2 and ended February 15. Eighteen per cent of respondents said they would reluctantly attend a Buddhist ceremony at a temple today. Well over half of Buddhist teens said they had never said a prayer before bedtime and about 18 per cent admitted they only prayed before Buddha images around exam time because they were materialistic and left nothing to chance, according to the poll.

On frequency of their temple visits, 32 per cent of the youngsters said they visited a temple only once every 2-3 years. About 39 per cent said they went to temples once a year, while 18 per cent said they went to a temple every couple of months, according to the poll. Over half of the teenagers polled said the activities they participated in at temples were arranged by schools on important Buddhist holidays.

About 19 per cent said they visited temples to make merit during the New Year holiday and 16 per cent went to temples on special occasions to get rid of bad luck, showing that they were still irrationally superstitious and did not understand Buddhism because the religion has nothing to do with good or bad luck. Luck is whatever one works to make out of their own life, as Lord Buddha used to say.

Teachers were the most frequent chaperones on temple visits, according to 50 per cent of respondents, followed by senior relatives at 33 per cent and parents at 12 per cent. Lack of interesting things to do was the most-cited reason for teenagers not wanting to go to temples. Other reasons included the restrained behaviour required while in temple compounds because today's young Thai people basically no longer had a sense of self-discipline and wanted instant gratification and free and easy gain, lack of time and lack of company.

While the poll showed teenagers had little interest in attending Buddhist ceremonies on important religious holidays, the Ministry of Public Health on the same day encouraged more Thais to meditate on Makha Bucha Day. American medical researchers had proven that meditation is good for the brain and immune system because it can reduce stress and control the symptoms of illness, according to Public Health Ministry spokesperson Nittaya Chanrueng Mahapol.

"The people were divided into two groups; the first group did meditation both at home and at a hospital for 2 months, while the other did not. The results showed the former group was healthier and less stressed, with a more effective immune system," she said.

"We therefore would like to encourage Thai people nationwide to do some meditation on this holy day in order to gain good merit and good health," Nittaya said.

It is unfortunate that the younger generation of Buddhists is not interested in religious practice and activities, while people from other countries are becoming more interested in Buddhism, she said. She felt that this was the beginning of the downfall of Thai society. Meditation is a good way for people of all ages to get healthier and stay healthy.

"For those who suffer from HIV, Aids, diabetes and cancer, frequent meditation will make them feel better as well as being a good and cheap way to boost their immune systems," she said.