Siamese Buddhist Monks and Enhancement of Thai Cultural Identity in Kelantan State of Malaysia

Abstract

The objective of this qualitative study was to investigate how Thai cultural identity was enhanced by Siamese Buddhist monks in Kelantan State, Malaysia. Data were collected from related documents, observation and in-depth interviews with 45 Siamese Buddhist monks and 58 informants. The data were analyzed and presented with descriptive analysis.

The research found that  here are many ways to reinforce Thai cultural identity strengthened by Siamese monks in various ways : 1) encouraging integration of various communities and organizations, 2) acknowledging goals and benefits from Thai culture, 3) raising awareness of self-reliance, helping one another, and loving oneself, 4) persuading everyone to participate, think, do, using community resources to mobilize and use, 5) creating a learning society and inheriting Thai culture, organizing activities into public spaces, 6) establishing Thai religious and cultural networks, and 7) creating leaders in Thai culture through a mechanism of promoting children and youth as leaders appropriately.