It sounds trite but look at a group of Thais and invariably you will see them laughing together. At some point in his life, every Buddhist man usually spends 15 or more days as a monk. So ingrained is this practice that it is customary for his company or the military to grant him leave to do so. Monks were once teachers, herbal doctors, and arbitrators in village disputes but today, many of their roles have been assumed by government agencies. Nonetheless, they still play important roles as arbiters in village disputes and as psychological counsellors.
Buddhist tolerance extends to all faiths.
They are testament to Thai respect for all religions, a freedom granted by the Constitution but also accepted as a natural fact of life. Beneath the faith in Buddhism is an older belief in animism. Trees and other objects are thought to contain spirits which must be placated to avoid bringing harm to oneself. Every home and office yard has a tiny house where the rampant spirits of the dead or of felled trees can reside. Thais take these beliefs very seriously, placing incense and flowers on the tiny houses each day.