Language & Landmarks: Thailand

Sawatdee Kah and welcome to Wat Pho: วัดโพธิ์, the Temple of the Reclining Buddha in the Kingdom of Thailand, once known as Siam. Loosely translated the word wat is from the Sanskrit, meaning school, but most often refers to a Buddhist temple. Every wat contains at least one image of Buddha, but in Wat Pho there are actually 1,000 depictions. The central, gigantic icon, pictured below, portrays Buddha lying on his side in a state of perfect peace and enlightenment called Nirvana. Buddhism is practiced by over 90% of the people in this kingdom and influences the values, communication style and behaviors of the entire nation.

Over 2,500 years ago, an Indian prince named Siddharta Guatama, wandered outside of his palace walls and unexpectedly found suffering, disease and poverty. He came to believe that neither a princely life of self indulgence, nor a life of degradation was meant for humankind. Through meditation and self discipline he developed a philosophy which encouraged moderation by following the “Middle Way”. He identified Four Noble Truths and an Eightfold Path guiding believers to break the endless cycle of death and reincarnation. By ridding one’s existence of desire and craving, eliminating greed, jealousy, hatred and anger, followers were enlightened and could enter Nirvana. Guatama became Buddha or “enlightened one” and soon Buddhism spread throughout Asia. In Thailand, many traditional Chinese folk-beliefs and customs were woven into this way of life. Practices like ancestor worship, or Animism, an ancient conviction that spirits exist in animals and objects in nature, are both influential today. Believing that one’s soul or khwan resides at the highest point of the body, prohibits touching a Thai’s head. Conversely, the lowest part of the body is considered unclean so showing the soles of the feet is insulting and avoided. Since use of the left hand is reserved for hygiene, only the right hand is used when passing objects to another.

Nonverbal messages are very powerful in Thailand where the proper greeting is the wai. Performed with the palms of the hands joined in a prayer-like position and raised to a suitable level between the chest and forehead one makes a slight bow, expressing the appropriate amount of respect. Only monks and royalty need not return the wai. Thais do not point at people, only at inanimate objects; laughing in a loud manner, kicking, shouting and using one’s elbows are considered unruly actions, reflecting the practice of moderation. All over the world, effective communication is achieved in both verbal and nonverbal ways. For business, pleasure, and general enlightenment, make certain you have all the communication tools available to relate successfully to your global customers and counterparts.

- Mary Beauregard, Global LT Intercultural Consultant

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