BUDDHISM IN A MUSLIM STATE: THERAVADA PRACTICES AND RELIGIOUS LIFE IN KELANTAN1

Abstract

Although Kelantan is noted for its orthodoxy, in particular with regard to nationalpolitics and local practices of Islam, Theravada Buddhism seems to thrive very wellamong the local Thai ethnic group. This is testified by the fact that there are twentytemples in the state with a full-fledged Sangha organization, whose monks also servein major towns outside the state. This paper describes some aspects of Theravadareligious life in the Malay Muslim state of Kelantan, located south of Thai-Malaysianborder in the east coast of the Malay Peninsula. The main concern of this paper is toexamine how Thai Theravada Buddhism places itself in the context of apredominantly Malay society and adapts to local social and cultural conditions. Thepaper will give particular attention to the sociological and anthropological factorscontributing to the non-antagonistic nature of relationship between Buddhism andIslam. Part of the answer can be traced to the historical origin of Buddhist temples inthe area and also from the adaptive mechanism Theravada Buddhism has made inorder to accommodate itself to the demand of the larger society in which the Thais area minority group. In terms of its ecclesiastical organization, the Sangha body ofKelantan maintains a close link with the Thai clergy, the latter being the source ofreligious reference and validation. The proximity of Kelantan to Thailand also meansthat Buddhism in Kelantan operates within a larger religious and cultural networkwhich transcends international political boundary.