Both buddhists but wat are the differences?

I am posting this message in the hope that someone out there can shed some light on queri.

I was wondering if someone can tell me the difference between thumayut and mahanikai schools of buddhism.I know they both are considered therevarda buddhism but what are the real distinguishing characteristics between them? How can I know if I am visting a thumayut or mahanikai temple?

I am thai but was brought up over seas and was always told by my mother that we are of the thumayut school and that it is a stricter form of buddhism than mahanikai is this true? because when I do see mahanikai monks i cant tell the difference if there is one.

Thank you in advance for your replies.

[Sawatdee]

The following comes from "Understanding Thai Buddhism" by M.L. Manich Jumsai

Quote[/b] ]King Mongkut (1851-1868) spent 27 years of his life as a Buddhist priest before he came to the throne. During this period of priesthood, he studied the sacred language of the Buddha, the Pali language. So learned was he that he could read all the teachings of the Buddha in the original Pali language. Then he discovered that so many things in the Buddhist way of life and belief had greatly departed from the practice during the days of the Buddha himself. He therefore set to purify the Buddhist texts, conducted new studies, and taught new conducts which would bring the conduct of priests and the teaching back into line with what the Buddha had actually taught in his days. Many priests followed him in this new revised way of Buddhist life and new texts. Thus a new school of Buddhist thought has sprung up as a new force in Thailand, differentiated from the old form of practice.

The new school started by King Mongkut was called Dhammayukti Nikaya, or the school clinging steadfastly to the real Dharma or Law of the Buddha. The old school, being still the majority in the country, was called Mahanikaya (meaning the great sect).

Thus, they are now two Buddhist groups in Thailand. They are not distinguishable from each other except in the mode of putting on the yellow robes, mode of pronouncing the Pali texts and certain forms of behaviour, e.g. the Dharmayukti priests would go about the streets, outside the temple, barefooted, without any sandals. The Mahanikaya priests still wear sandals. In Bangkok, there are only 30 Dharmayukti temples as against 353 Mahanikaya temples.

[Wanna]

That's was very enriching!~

[Gwin]

Also, a Mahanikai monk may select to specialize either in studying scripture or in meditation. A Thammayut monk is not allowed to specialize, and must practice both things.

As Sawatdee's text explains, Mahanikai school of monkhood is much more common in Thailand. Ever since the establishment of Thammayut, there has been some disagreement over what is correct. There are two reasons why two different schools of monkhood continue to exist:

1. Buddhist philosophy requires an open mind.
2. The Thammayut school was started by a King, and therefore it gains serious respect in Thailand, even if some people choose to practice Mahanikai school.

Gwin

[Bankei]

Think of the two Nikayas as two different lineages (Vamsa). King Mongkut was not satified with the practice of the majority (Maha-) of the monks during his time. He was suspicious of the validity of their ordination, so he took ordination from a Burmese monk (actually Mon I think). Thereafter his followers took ordination from him, and eventally a different lineage developed.

There should be no difference in teachings, but minor differences in practice. It would be hard to tell which Nikaya an individual monk or temple belonged to.