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These monks were visiting the Temple of the Emerald Buddha in Bangkok on April 26, 1996. We know that they were visiting
because this temple, which houses the most important Buddha image in Thailand, has no resident monks. Over ninety percent
of Thailand's population follows Theravada Buddhism, and most men are expected to join the monkhood for at least a few
weeks at some point in their lives, in order to accrue merit for themselves and their families. Individuals who practice Theravada Buddhism are concerned with achieving personal enlightenment (as Siddhartha Gautama did after years of meditation, thus becoming the Buddha in the 6th century B.C.) by following an "eightfold path" of Right View, Right Thought, Right Speech, Right Behavior, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, and Right Concentration. There are no supernatural deities or "gods" in Buddhism. Monks wearing these saffron-colored robes are a very common sight throughout Thailand. |