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Roots of Buddhism – Ceylon (Sri Lanka)

By Regional Representatives Mon, Aug 15, 2011 6:07PM UTC View Comments

By Yadhu Roshan Buddhism is one of the oldest religions of the world. It was founded by Buddha Siddhartha Gautama in ancient India (Lumbini, Nepal presently). It has evolved over the years and spread to a wide number of countries around the world. Buddhism was first introduced in Sri Lanka around 236 B.C (250 BCE)...

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Thailand’s cultural heralds to crack down… on planking?!

By Siam Voices Tue, Jun 21, 2011 6:10PM UTC View Comments

By Saksith Saiyasombut Thailand’s National Knee-Jerk Outrage Machine (“กลไกสร้างปฏิกิริยาอย่างไร้ความยั้งคิดแห่งประเทศไทย”*), also known as the self-proclaimed cultural heralds of everything ‘Thainess’, have struck again! After clamping down on farang chefs, topless Songkran dancers, religious tattoos on infidel skin, they are now targeting another absolutely inappropriate, un-Thai abomination: planking!!! Yes, the craze, where everyone lies face down in the most...

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Thai Culture Minister’s anti-religious-tattoo-on-foreigners-gate redux

By Siam Voices Fri, Jun 03, 2011 11:00AM UTC View Comments

A man showing his back tattooed with ancient scripts at Wat Bang Phra Temple in Nakhon Chaisri, Thailand. The sacred, Buddhist movties are said to grant supernatural powers to it's bearers. (Image by Flickr user "kPluto", licsenced under CC)

By Saksith Saiyasombut Yesterday’s post on the Thai Ministry of Culture’s declaration of intent to stop foreign tourists from getting religious tattoos has created quite a buzz around the net. No wonder, since this is a) a story affecting a lot of tourists, and b) quite honestly yet another stupid idea by the self-proclaimed heralds...

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Thai Culture Ministry to crack down on religious tattoos on foreign skin

By Siam Voices Tue, May 31, 2011 11:26PM UTC View Comments

By Saksith Saiyasombut Tattoos have a very special place in Thailand. They’re more than just permanent fashion statements, not unlike amulets they are regarded as spiritual guardians. Tattoos with religious or spiritual motives, called Yantra tattoos, are yet another sign that Thais take their beliefs skin-deep. Philip Cornwel-Smith dedicated a whole chapter in his excellent book “Very Thai”...

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Thai Cabinet: Govt officials to go to temple every Sunday for HM the King

By Bangkok Pundit Wed, Mar 09, 2011 2:30PM UTC View Comments

Thai Rath quotes the Minister of Culture has stating that as part of the celebrations to mark the auspicious occasion of His Majesty the King’s 84th birthday that the Cabinet has passed a resolution to approve the program to promote ethics amongst government officials and civilians (ที่ประชุมได้มีมติเห็นชอบโครงการส่งเสริมคุณธรรมจริยธรรม สำหรับข้าราชการและประชาชน เฉลิมพระเกียรติพระบาทสมเด็จพระเจ้าอยู่หัว เนื่องในโอกาสพระราชพิธีมหามงคล เฉลิมพระชนมพรรษา 7 รอบ 5 ธันวาคม...

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