Buddhism permeates the Thai way of life. As a professional Thai boxer once I was immediately drawn into this philosophy.

The Theravada tradition is found mostly throughout south east Asia with the strongest Buddhism being found in Burma, Thailand, Cambodia and Laos.  

When I lived in Udon Thani Thailand, my muay Thai teacher brought me to a Wat (temple) to learn more about Thai traditions and culture. I had planned to stay at the temple for three months. That stay turned into 3 years. I learned to serve the monks while humbly learning pali chanting and the monk's way of life.  

When I left the temple I continued to learn and to fight in Muay Thai. I had learned a lot about Buddhism while there at the temple. Most Americans or foreigners are confused about Buddhism. Often they believe that Buddha is worshipped like a supernatural being. Although some Asians are guilty of this also, but in reality, Buddha was a regular guy who found enlightenment. He shared his teachings with anyone who wanted to learn the truth about why we suffer in life. His teachings were straight forward.  

So when you go into a temple, don't be afraid to bow in the temple. You are merely showing respect to the teachings of the Buddha, not his statue. Buddhism is not a cult. It is more like a psychology. A study of one's own mind. I mean no disrespect to anyone who is Buddhist, but I merely want to show my respect and my knowledge for Buddhism. I want to educate more Americans about this outstanding tradition that draws on facts and not on supernatural feats or hocus pocus. 
   

Buddhism has three main characteristics: Annica (pronounced a-ni-cham) meaning without permanence. Nothing last forever. We will all die, this is a fact of life. The second is "Dukkha" meaning suffering. Thai people are fond of saying, enjoy today, because tomorrow you go back to a life of suffering. Most suffering starts and ends with ourselves. Third is "Anata", no self. When we are gone from this earth, our hair doesn't belong to us anymore, our skin and bones do not belong to us anymore,etc. So really, there is no self. We want to be permanent, we want our bodies to be permanent, but we do not have the power to control it. Our bodies will not be permanent.

 
One main core of training in Buddhism is through meditation. Although there are many forms of meditations or techniques, the one that I will present here is called "Vipassana" (pronounced vi-pa-ssan-na), which means insight meditation. This meditation technique is used to control the mind from wandering off when concentrating on the present moment. You see, it is now that we are living. Living in the moment. How can we live more in the present moment? Not living in the past, not living or thinking about the future (although planning is different), but truly living in the present moment.

Vipassana teaches us through a simple technique of following our breath. When you are breathing in, you say to yourself "breathing in", and when breathing out you say "breathing out". When your mind begins to wander, you bring it back on the present moment. This technique can be practiced everyday and anywhere. There are forms of doing it while sitting on the floor, or sitting in a chair, or even walking meditation, but for now we will be concerned with only sitting on the floor.  

You see, once you breathe a breath it is gone, you can never breathe the same breath twice. That is the same for life. Once a moment is gone, it is gone forever and all we have is hopefully pleasant memories.
   

I hope that you will find this information useful. Try it out and practice it. Try five minutes in the morning and then extend the time over practice. It is not how long you sit and practice but the quality of your training. Don't mind my New York mentality of telling it how it is, but that is how I am. I don't like to see people waste their time or their money.  
   

I would like to take this time to thanks some very outstanding teachers that I have had: Maha Prasert (Wat Budhasunorn), Ajahn Somchai (Wat Budhasunorn), Ajahn Mike Lightfoot (Wat Budhasunorn), Sayadaw U Pandita (Burma), and Ajahn Ipune (Wat Lao Washington).  

There are many fine teachers out their and I highly recommend the following individuals work if you don't have access to a teacher: Sayadaw U Pandita (Burma), Sayagi U Ba Khin (Burma), Maha Ghosananda (Cambodia), Ajahn Jumnien (Thailand), Ajanh Dhammadaro (thailand), Taungpulu Sayadaw (Burma), Ajanh Maha Boowa (Thailand), Ajanh Buddhadasa (Thailand), Jack Kornfield (USA), Ajanh Sumano (American Monk), Ajahn Sumedho (American Monk living in Britain, Ajanh Passano (American Monk in USA), etc. Any of their work can be found in book stores or on the web.  

Every year I try to continue my studies by staying for a short period as lay practictioner in temples. This is a great period for me to train my mind and my heart. I would also like to thank some friends who have helped me in one way or another: Chadeth "Cheetah" Chantanao (Muay Thai Champ), Master Toddy, Sumvat, and many others. This has been a great journey.