Hi there, Dear Friends:
We had a question from one of our visitors who was interested in some of the differences between Thai Buddhism and Therevada (path of the elders) Buddhism:
 "I am interested in quite a few of your Buddhist gifts, but it seems that you don't have an Therevada Buddhism objects.
It seems that they are either Thai or Zen.
Do you have an Therevada products or know of a website that does?
I am just starting to practice Buddhism and may not quite understand, but under the Amoghshiddhi Buddha Amulet and Green Tara amulet there are references to Thai Buddhists. so does that mean that they mean nothing in the Therevada vehicle of Buddhism?
Just wondering.
If you can't help, I understand.
Thanks so much!"
Here was our response. I hop this helps out to anyone else who might be interested:
Thanks so much for your note. Thai Buddhism is a form of Therevada (path of the elders) Buddhism!
 A long time ago Thai Buddhism was part of the Mahayana lineage, and there were many aspects of Hinduism in it. But there was a big reform movement in the Sukhothai period (13th century) and over the years many monks were brought over from Sri Lanka to re-establish Thai Buddhism, since they believed that the Buddhism practiced in Sri Lanka at the time was a more pure form of Buddhism. So in Thailand we call our lineage of Buddhism the Lanka Lineage (because of the influence from Sri Lanka).
Now here is something too. When the English colonized Sri Lanka in the 1800s they did something (I am not sure what) that many Buddhist thought corrupted the Buddhism lineage there. So later on in Sri Lanka when they wanted to reform Buddhism, they re-imported many of the teachings back from Thailand so they could be similar to the
original teachings in Sri Lanka. So in Sri Lanka, they say they follow the Siamese (Thai) lineage of Buddhism.
So both Thailand and Sri Lanka are considered Therevada Buddhist countries. And if you want to know something strange, even though the country is Buddhist and the king is Buddhist, the royal family and the king DON'T have Buddhist ceremonies. They have Brahman ceremonies. Thai common people have Buddhist weddings and funerals, but Thai royalty have Brahman ceremonies.
Anyway, most Thai temples will and monks will focus either on learning the Dharma, or on meditation, but there is a sect called thammayki that stresses both Dharma and mediation.
I hope I have helped and feel free to ask any more questions.
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