Thai art

Buddha images of the Sukhothai period are elegant, with sinuous bodies and slender, oval faces. This style emphasised the spiritual aspect of the Buddha by omitting anatomical details. The effect was enhanced by the common practice of casting images in metal rather than carving them. This period saw the introduction of the "walking Buddha" pose. Sukhothai artists tried to follow the defining marks of a Buddha set out in ancient Pali texts: skin so smooth that dust cannot stick legs like a deer thighs like a ban ...

See also:

Thai art, Thai art - Painting, Thai art - Sukhothai period, Thai art - Ayutthaya period, Thai art - Bangkok period, Thai art - Contemporary, Thai art - External link

Read more here: » Thai art: Encyclopedia II - Thai art - Sukhothai period

The history of Buddhism spans from the 6th century BCE to the present, starting with the birth of the Buddha Siddharta Gautama. This makes it one of the oldest religions practiced today. Throughout this period, the religion evolved as it encountered various countries and cultures, adding to its original Indian foundation Hellenistic as well as Central Asian, East Asian, and Southeast Asian cultural elements. In the process, its geographical extent became considerable so as to affect at one time or another most of the Asian continent. The history of Buddhism is also characterized by the development of numerous movements and schisms, foremost among them the Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana traditions, punctuated by contrasting periods of expansion and retreat.

Read more here: » Buddhism: History of Buddhism

The Thai Buddhist Calendar

With important days for ceremonies and rituals, including: Visakha Puja, Magha Puja, Asalha Puja, Khao Phansa, Ok Phansa, Tod Kratin

Read more here: » Buddhism: Thai Buddhist Calendar

NUAT THAI

This form of traditional Thai medical massage that originated in the Vajrayana Yogic medicine of Tibet. Translated and creatively adapted to the needs of the modern West by Anthony B. James, Ph.D., Nuat Thai massage facilitates and promotes a harmonious state of being.

The ancient Tibetans and subsequently the Thai carefully recorded various states of disease and imbalances of the body, mind, and emotions and, over time, devised methods for influencing the course of these imbalances. This was important, since these imbalances often kept people from experiencing life in a full and productive way.

Nuat Thai incorporates elements of mindfulness, gentle rocking, deep stretching, and rhythmic compression to create a singular healing experience. This work, a unique form of Vajrayana yoga, focuses on balancing energy and creating wholeness of mind, body, and spirit in the client and practitioner.

The four principle methods used in Nuat Thai are Wai Khruu (prayers and spiritual practice), herbs, diet, and laying-on of hands. In the hands-on aspect, the practitioner literally takes the client through a series of specific postures called asanas, progressively facilitating energy and balancing chakra function.

Nuat Thai massage is an excellent alternative therapy for rehabilitation, pain relief, and stress reduction. It is nurturing, calming, and enlivening. Training is comprehensive and the practitioner level may take up to two years.

(See also: NUAT THAI , Alternative Health, Massage, Bodywork, Body Mind and Soul)

Buddhist Festivals and Special Days

There are many special or holy days held throughout the year by the Buddhist community. Many of these days celebrate the birthdays of Bodhisattvas in the Mahayana tradition or other significant dates in the Buddhist calendar. The most significant celebration happens every May on the night of the full moon, when Buddhist all over the world celebrate the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha over 2,500 years ago. It has become to be known as Buddha Day.

Read more here: » Buddhism: Buddhist Festivals and Special Days

Buddhism: Funeral Rites as practiced in Thailand and other South East Asian Countries.

Funeral rites are the most elaborate of all the life-cycle ceremonies and the ones entered into most fully by the monks. It is a basic teaching of Buddhism that existence is suffering, whether birth, daily living, old age or dying. This teaching is never in a stronger position than when death enters a home. Indeed Buddhism may have won its way the more easily in Thailand because it had more to say about death and the hereafter than had animism.

Read more here: » Buddhist Rites: Buddhist Funeral Rites

Christ and Budda: Jesus Through Buddhist Eyes

His Holiness, the Dalai Lama, speaking to a capacity audience in the Albert Hall in 1984 united his listeners instantly with one simple statement: "All beings want to be happy; they want to avoid pain and suffering." I was impressed at how he was able to touch what we share as human beings. He affirmed our common humanity, without in any way dismissing the obvious differences.

When invited to look at 'Jesus through Buddhist eyes', I had imagined that I would use a 'compare and contrast' approach, rather like a school essay. I was brought us as a Christian and turned to Buddhism in my early thirties, so of course I have ideas about both traditions: the one I grew up in and turned aside from, and the one I adopted and continue to practise within. But after re-reading some of the gospel stories, I would like to meet Jesus again with fresh eyes, and to examine the extent to which he and the Buddha were in fact offering the same guidance, even though the traditions of Christianity and Buddhism can appear in the surface to be rather different.

Read more here: » Christ and Budda: Jesus Through Buddhist Eyes

THAI MASSAGE

Also called nuad no rarn, Thai massage has been taught and practiced in Thailand for approximately 2,500 years. Although the origins are somewhat vague, credit for

Thai massage is given to a famous Indian doctor, Shivago Komarpaj, who was the personal physician of the Buddha and Magadha king. Historically, manipulation was one of four major branches composing traditional Thai ceremonies or magical practices. This is based on the theory the body is made up of 72,000 sen, or energy lines, of which 10 hold top priority.

Thai massage also involves peripheral stimulating, meaning it acts as an external stimulant to produce specific internal effects. This point serves as the main division between Thai and Western massage.

Thai massage is practiced on a firm mat on the floor instead of on a table, instrumental in the effective use of the practitioner’s body weight. Except for the feet, the client remains fully clothed, so draping is not necessary.

(See also: THAI MASSAGE , Alternative Health, Massage, Bodywork, Body Mind and Soul)

Danny Becher share his long experience of the relation between sound and healing and how the practice of Overtones may assist us to build a bridge to the higher spiritual dimensions. The relationship between sound and the Spiritual Dimensions is also explained.

Read more here: » Sound and Healing: Overtones make us listen to the higher dimensions

A Dictionary of Spiritual Terms. From Acupuncture to Zoroaster.

Please note that all words in grey, like "yoga", "enlightenment" or "kundalini" are hyperlinked to archives further explaining the term. At the corresponding archive you will also find articles related to the term.

Thai Massage: Millennia-old, sacred form of bodywork that resembles shiatsu and is related to Nadi Sutra Kriya. It draws from acupressure, passive yoga therapy, and reflexology. Thai Massage makes recipients feel more balanced physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

(See also: Thai Massage , Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

ajaan, ajahn, achaan, etc.: (Thai). Teacher; mentor. Equivalent to the Pali acariya.

 (See also: Ajaan, , Buddhism, Body Mind and Soul)

Thai Massage: The principles of Thai Massage are derived from Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine. Practitioners stimulate channels and points through which “vital force” is said to flow. It often involves stretching and bending in order to improve the flow of this vital energy. Thai Massage is used to threat pain, poor posture, stress, and musculoskeletal problems.

(See also: Thai Massage , Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

Thai Massage: Millennia-old, sacred form of bodywork that resembles shiatsu and is related to Nadi Sutra Kriya. It draws from acupressure, passive yoga therapy, and reflexology. Thai Massage makes recipients feel more balanced physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

(See also: Thai Massage , Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

ASHIATSU ORIENTAL BAR THERAPY

Developed by Ruthie Hardee in 1995, Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapy combines elements of traditional Thai massage, Barefoot shiatsu and Keralite foot massage (Chavutti Thirummal).

Incorporating overhead wooden bar supports, the therapist uses body weight and gliding foot compression on strategic points along the muscles. When performed near the spine, this form of effleurage creates a “push, pull, pumping” effect on the intervertebral disc space and relieves irritations on the spinal nerve caused by inflammation and swelling.

Note: The application of this technique is not to be done on a floor mat or through clothing. This technique was designed for smaller, petite therapists who wish to specialize in deep work.

(See also: ASHIATSU ORIENTAL BAR THERAPY , Alternative Health, Massage, Bodywork, Body Mind and Soul)

Integrative bodywork: A variety of massage therapies, bodywork techniques and energy therapies used to assist the healing process. Techniques include Swedish, Thai, deep tissue and lymphatic massage therapies; CranialSacral, breathwork and Feldenkrais, bodywork techniques; Therapeutic Touch, Reiki and Jin Shin Jitzu energy therapies.

(See also: Integrative bodywork , Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

Thai-style bodywork: Variety of bodywork therapies native to Thailand. Their design is to create energetic balance and wholeness of body, mind, and spirit in practitioners and their clients.

(See also: Thai-style bodywork , Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

Thai Massage: A technique that involves a unique combination of gentle rocking and stretching using range of motion and acupressure techniques applied through clothing without oils.

(See also: Thai Massage , Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

than, tan: (Thai). Reverend, venerable.

 (See also: Than , Buddhism, Body Mind and Soul)

Buddhism:

Religion which holds that life is full of suffering caused by desire and that the way to end suffering is to end the birth-death cycle through enlightenment. There are now many "flavours" of Buddhism, Tibetan, Chinese, Japanese, Thai etc.

(See also: Buddhism , Body Mind and Soul)