Thailand is routinely described as a Buddhist country, reflecting the fact that a majority of the population is registered as followers of the faith. National Statistical Office records show 94.6 per cent of Thais are registered as Buddhists.
However, in reality, our Buddhist identity often goes little further than what's written on our ID cards and house-registration documents. Many of us stick to animistic beliefs and superstitions in charting our way through life, ignoring Lord Buddha's teaching about the "middle way", a path of moderation between extremes.