Overview about Annam Nikaya in Thailand

Introduction

Buddhism has been the main religion and a part of tradition of Thailand for many hundred
years. In the past, Theravada was the only Buddhist sect in Thailand, but in a few recent
centuries, Mahayana and Vajrayana came to Thailand. Gradually Mahayana and Varajana
doctrine have been adopted by educated people. In the late 19 th century and early 20st
century, most Thais did not even hear about the word ‘Mahayana’ or Vajrayana, and they
were surprised when they heard that Buddhism has two main sects.  In this writing, I am
going to briefly introduce Annam Nikaya, one branch of Mahayana Buddhism in Thailand.

I. Origin of Annam Nikaya

1. Early emergence of Annam Nikaya in Thailand

Annam Nikaya is a one branch of Mahayana Buddhist sect of Thailand. It is known that this
sect was established by Vietnamese monks and Thai monks who followed Vietnam
Buddhism in the early 18 century. ‘Annam’ was used to mention about Vietnamese in the
early 17th to 19th century. At first, it was used by French. ‘Nikaya’ in Pali means school or
sect.

According to ‘Viet nam su Luoc’, a main and important history book of Vietnamese, in 1782
a Vietnamese King, named Nguyen Ánh,  lost in the civil War with the invaded army of
Nguyễn Huệ, so he and his relatives ran to Thailand as  political refugees. The delegation of
King Nguyen Anh, including his relatives, commanders and monks run to Phu Quoc, and
after that they run to Bangkok, the capital of Thailand. During the time of living in Bangkok,
the delegation of King Nguyen Anh was supported by King Rama I. Also during that time
Vietnamese monks, who followed Nguyen Anh to Thailand, were teaching Mahayana
doctrine to Thai people. Then very soon after that, by the support of King Rama I, Khanh Hội
temple (Wat Mongalasamagom ) was built  as the place for Vietnamese monks to teach
Dharma.

In 1783 King Nguyen Anh came back to Vietnam to fight against the invading army. But
those monks, who followed Nguyen Anh, decided not to leave Thailand; they continued to
propagate Buddha’s teaching In Thailand.  With help of King Ramas, Mahayana started to
spread to some other areas, such as Chiang Mai, Kachanaburi, Nakhonchaisi and Hatyai.

2. Way of practice

Monks of Annam Nikaya kept following all methods that were transmitted from Vietnamese.
They also translated Sutra from Vietnamese into Thai. At that time, although ‘Chu Nom’ was
considered the main language of Vietnam, most of Vietnamese tended to use Chinese letters
as body-language for writing. For speaking, the pronunciation of Vietnamese was different
from Chinese pronunciation. It is similar to the HK, Cantonese or Guang Zhau dialect, those
are Chinese, too; but the pronunciation is different from Chinese that is used by Han people
( Hans are people who use Beijing dialect). Vietnamese, after that, changed their language;
they decided to use Roman letters as body-language for writing; but they have not changed
their origin sound and pronunciation of old language. Vietnamese is called ‘’ Quoc Ngu’’
now.
Ananam Nikaya monks in Thailand now still keep the old Vietnamese language for chanting,
reciting Sutra. Seemingly most monks do not understand the meaning of those Sutras that
they chant everyday. But except for a small number of old monks, who can read and
understand the meaning of Sutra in old Vietnamese or Chinese because they studied those
languages. This problem is not only for Annam Nikaya monks, but also for all Buddhist
traditions. Such as Theravada monks, they use Pali to recite Sutra, but surely they just recite
as Mantra-practice; some can understand if they study Pali. Similarly, Vietnamese monks, in
the past, could read all Sutras in Chinese, and, of course, they could understand the meaning
of Sutras in Chinese. But now that they have used Roman letters as the body- language in
writing, most of Vietnamese cannot read Chinese, and they do not understand the meaning of
the Sutra.

About architecture:

 At the beginning of development, most of the temples of Annam Nikaya were built by a
combination of Vietnamese a Chinese architecture. In that every temple has one main shrine,
which deploys Buddha’s statues and Boddhisattvas; this is called ‘’ Buddha shrine’’. In the
Buddha shrine, Sakyamuni Buddha’s statue was placed in the center. On the left side is
Medicine Buddha’s statue and on the right side is Amitabha Buddha’s statue.

One of the most important characteristics of Annam Nikaya is the belief in Boddhisattvas.
Hence, in most Annam temples, Bodhisattvas’ statues are deployed around the temple. Such
as Ksitigarba ( Dizang in Chinese), Puxian, Manjusri, and especially Gaun Yin bodhisattva.
Guan Yin bodhisattva is believed widely in Thailand by Lay Buddhists in both sects,
Mahayana and Theravada. Guan Yin is considered an enlightened person, who has 12 vows
of helping others. According to her vows, people who usually recite her name can drive away
bad and unlucky things or conditions. Guan Yin is believed strongly by people who are
Chinese; they usually recite Guan Yin's name when they want their works to be successful.

3. Annam Nikaya in the present time.

More than 100 years ago, when some Chinese started moving and living in Thailand; they
kept going to temples to chant sutras and respect the statues of Buddha and Bodhisattvas on
the 1st and 14th every month according to the lunar calendar. Of course, Chinese chose Annam
temples, because its way of ritual and ceremony is similar to Buddhist temples in their
country. Before long, Chinese temples were established in Thailand to satisfy the needs of
Chinese there. By processes of exchange, Annam monks adopted some Chinese ways of
chanting and making ceremonies into Annam Nikaya.

Also we can understand that Chinese art of building temples has been very special in the
Mahayana sect, so Annam monks preferred to bring the structure of Chinese art in building
their temples than Vietnamese art,  but for those ancient temples, Annam monks still keep
preserving their own structure and art. Because the structure of Annam temples is similar to
Chinese temples, most people, both foreigners and Thais, tend to be confused that Annam
temples are Chinese temples.

Furthermore, a short time after King Nguyen Anh came back to Vietnam, he changed
Vietnamese language. With the help of some French scholars, Roman letters have been used
instead of Chinese letters. It means that nowadays, even though Vietnamese also cannot read
books which were written down by Chinese letters, but accepting monks who have studied
Chinese. Apparently this change was not influenced on Annam monks in Thailand too much;
they still keep ancient Vietnamese sound in reciting sutras. Besides that Annam monks have
studied Chinese because they have realized that Chinese language is the key to teach Dharma
to Chinese people in Thailand and some neighboring countries such as Malaysia, Singapore.

In addition, to remember the gratitude of Vietnamese patriarchs, Some Annam monks studied
Vietnamese and they sometimes visit Vietnam to exchange and study more methods on
organization, structure and language, and they have applied to their temples. And
surprisingly, most of the head- monks of Annam Nikaya can speak Vietnamese fluently.

II. Characteristics of Annam Nikaya( AN)

1. The belief in Annam Nikaya (AN)

The concept of Annam about Buddha’s teaching is rather different from other sects in
Thailand. Main Buddhist belief in Thailand is Theravada Buddhism. And there are two main
branches of Theravada Buddhism in Thailand, Thammayut and Mahanikai. In Theravada
sects, the concept of Bodhisattva is not accepted, even though Bodhisattva ways are
mentioned in doctrine of both Mahayana and Theravada.

Monks of AN sect strongly adopted the concept of Bodhisattva. In which they believe that
bodhisattva way is the perfect way to achieve perfect wisdom and enlightenment. Also in the
concept of bodhisattva way, one person cannot achieve ultimate or perfect enlightenment, if
they lack wisdom and compassion. It means that practitioners have to teach and guide others
to practice Buddha’s teaching while they are practicing. There are several stories about the
previous lives of Buddha which told us how Buddha practiced the Bodhisattva way. It is
believed that practitioners cannot achieve ultimate enlightenment if those who practice hard,
but lack compassion. Compassion and wisdom are considered as the wings of birds; without
compassion, practitioners are like a bird with only one part of the wing.

In addition, six Paramitas are the six perfect ways or Boddhisattva ways in the Mahayana
sect. They are generosity, moral ethics, patience, diligence, concentration and wisdom. Each
of those perfect ways guides practitioners on how to achieve enlightenment correctly.
(1)Generosity is the way of offering others without thinking to gain back benefit. We have to
offer others what we can as much as possible even though our lives. There are some stories in
Sutta Pitaka which mentioned that Buddha offered his bodies to hungry lions and so on. (2)
Moral ethics is the practice of principles or precepts. Buddha set up precepts for lay
Buddhists, monks and nuns. Practitioners have to keep practicing precepts strictly by their
situations. There are five precepts for lay Buddhists, 250 for monks and 284 for nuns. (3)
Patience is the way to endure and adapt in every situation and difficulty. (4) Diligence is the
way of practice and study hard. (5) Concentration is the way of practice Sammadhi and
Vipassana; Sammdhi is the method, in which practitioner has to focus on one thing to make
the mind be calm, such as chanting Sutra, counting breath and so on; Vipassana is the way of
contemplation on feeling or state of mind. (6)Wisdom is the correct understanding about us,
the nature of things and phenomena.

Practitioners can practice those methods or only one of those, but when you perfect one
method, naturally you will perfect other ways. Those ways are inter-relative. Such as when
you practice generosity, you have to offer others as much as possible, and of course you will
not steal anything from others. It means that you are keeping precepts or moral ethics, too.
Also when you help others, you have to work hard to have money or something to give to
others; it means that you are practicing diligence.
In addition, In Annam Nikaya, the vows of enlightened bodhisattvas are also the methods to
practice. According to Mahayana concept, enlightened Boddhisattvas are people who attained
enlightenment completely, and trying to help others. There are many Boddhisatvvas in
Mahayna sect, and each of them has vows on practice. Here I do not mention all, but Guan
Yin and Puxian or Samantabhadra

12 vows of Guan Yin

1. Always listens those who recite her name and pray to her

2. Always help people who pray to her when they have accident on the ocean

3. Always help people to improve on good if they often recite her name or pray to her

4. Willing to help people to free from devil gods, monsters and poisoned animals

5. With pure water she always helps people who want to free from their desire

6. Guan Yin always helps others with equality

7. Guan Yin appears in thousands of manifestation to help people to prevent doing bad
actions that can lead to reborn into three suffered realms (Hell, hungry ghost and animal)

8. Free people from the prison if they are imprisoned by confusion of police

9. Appears into six realms to help sentient being to improve on good.

10. Guider for sentient being to reborn in pure land

11. Guidance for sentient being to reborn in the world of Amitaba Buddha

12. Diligent to keep those vows finishing

10 vows of Puxian

1. Paying homage and respect to all Buddha

2. Ofen praise all the Buddha

3. Diligent to offer and help others

4. Diligent to confess bad action and evil deeds

5. Rejoice the merit and virtue of others

6. Request the Buddha to turn the wheels of Dharma

7. Request the Buddha to remain in the world

8. Diligent to study and practice Buddha’s teaching

9. To be always in harmony with all beings

10. Turn over all merit to benefit all beings

IV. Some prominent temple of Annam Nikaya

III. Prominent temples of Annam Nikaya

1. Khanh Van temple

Khanh Van temple or Wat Upairachbamrung, which is located in 864 Charoenkrung Talat Noi,
Smphathawim, Bangkok, is the second important temple of Annam Nikaya in Thailand. This temple
first was built by the support of King Rama I, and it was rebuilt by King Mongkut (Rama IV).

 
Some pictures of Khanh Van temple
 Relic-body of Pra Rueng Mathura
Sakul

2. Mahapanya temple (Wat Thawornwararam)

This is biggest temple of Annam Nikaya in the south of Thailand. Mahapanya temple located
at 635/1 Thammonovithi Road, Hatyai, Songkhla. And it is also the Buddhist school for
monks and novices. Especially, Mahapnaya school is international college for monks.
Students are monks, both Mahyanists and Theravadins, who come from many countries
around Asian, such as Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam and students from Nepal and
India.
 Pagoda and statues of Bodhisattva’s Ksitigarbha

3. Wat Thamkhounoy (chùa Khánh Thọ)

This temple located at 18/1 Mou 5 Muangchum, Thamuang-Kanchanabury 71000. I don’t have any
document about this temple. But this temple still keeps the Relic of one enlightened monk, Ho Phach.

Relic- Body of Pra Ho Phach

There are 13 temple more totally of Annam Nikaya in Thailand, but we do not have document,
moreover those temples are not so special. Therefore we do not mention here.

IV. Daily activity

1. Go to get alms in the morning.

Thailand is Buddhist country, more than 95% of its population believes in Buddhism. Thai
Buddhists, both monks and lays, still keep those behaviors and traditions which, are believed,
started from the time of Buddha. Such as, in the morning, monks keep going to collect alms
and lay Buddhists often prepare food to offer monks in the morning.

Similar to the daily activity of monks of other sects, Annam monks also go to get alms in the
morning. They also take the bowl and do not wear shoes when they are in the way of getting
alms. And after Lay Buddhists offer food, they also have to chant blessing Sutra to pray for
people who offer food or water to them. But instead of using Pali in chanting, they use old
Vietnamese language for praying.

The Sutra: ‘  Nguyện Đem công đức này

                  Hướng về khắp tất cả

                 Đệ tử và chúng sanh

                 TRọn vien thành đạo quả’

Translated in English

           ’’ I pray for this offering,

              For person who just offered me and all sentient beings

             Will reside in Happiness and achieve enlightenment.’’

2. Daily chanting

Annam monks still keep two main chartings, morning chanting at 5 Am and evening chanting
at 6 Pm. Besides that Annam monks also practice meditation, both Vipassana and Sammadhi;
those two methods are the only procedure to deeply understand Buddha’s teaching and to
achieve enlightenment. About the method to practice, every monk can decide which method
is suitable for him most, and he can pick one of those.

In two main daily chanting, at first they usually chant Compassion Mantra; after that they
chant Heart Sutra and then they chant the vows of Bodhisattvas; And at the end they vow to
practice Bodhisattva way. Compassion Mantra is the popular Mantra in Mahayana sect
which, is believed, is the way to practice of Compassion. Heart Sutra is the famous teaching
of Buddha on non-self. In this Sutra, Buddha taught about five aggregates and the self. In
Mahayana sect as well as Annam Nikaya, The daily chanting texts content a meaningful
symbol of Buddha’s teaching. At first, they start to chant Compassion Mantra, then Heart
Sutra and at the end, the vows of bodhisattvas. The Compassion Mantra represents
compassion for us. According to Mahayana doctrine, Practitioners should practice
compassion, and then they gradually can understand about non-self. Without practicing of
compassion, practitioners never can understand non-self.

Besides those, some festivals and ceremonies are celebrated routinely every year by Annam
Nikaya. Such as ghost festivals, ordination for novices, Veggie festivals and so on. 

Ghost festival is celebrated by most temples in Thailand in July; normally it is often

celebrated only one day by other Buddhist sects. But for the Annam sect, they celebrate the
Ghost festival for three days. Ghost festival started at the time of Buddha. According to the
legend, Ven. Moggallana, one of the prominent students of Buddha, by the power of
meditation, saw his mother suffering in hell, and his mother was very hungry. He tried to use
power to bring food to his mother, but it changed to fire when his mother touched food.
Sorrowfully, he came back and asked Buddha; Buddha gave advice on how to do ritual to
help sentient being who suffer as the hungry ghosts

Veggie festival is a ten days-ceremony. It usually takes place on 24 th October. In this festival,
people try to eat only vegetables, and they also come to Buddhist temples to offer food, robe
and medicine to monks. Especially, they come to temples to chant sutras and say some
prayers for their deceased relatives. People believe that the virtue of offering and praying can
help their deceased relatives change Karma.

Ordination for novices takes place in summer. According to Thai tradition, every man
should be ordained as a monk or novice one time during their lives. In most temples in
Thailand, men can go to any temple to ordain monks. If they are more than twenty years old,
they can be ordained as monks directly. But if they are less than 20 years old, they just can
ordain as novices. Of course, they can be ordained as monks or novices at any point of time
of year. But summer seems to be the suitable time for ordination in Thailand because in
summer they are not so busy with study or work; therefore, most men choose summer’s time
to ordain monks and novices. In Thailand, one can be a monk or novice just for one week or
one month, after that they disrobe as lay Buddhist to work and study normally.

3. Robe of Annam monks.

a. Way to wear a robe in daily activity

Pandit

20/06/2015, Songkhla, Thailand