#Buddhism

A new scientific study detailing the enigmatic phenomenon of out-of-body experiences (OBEs) is sparking fresh debate on a long-standing question: Does consciousness reside entirely inside the brain, or could it exist somewhere beyond our physical bodies? Published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology in April 2025, the research offers a rare look into the lived accounts of individuals who claim to have experienced their awareness drifting outside their bodies, challenging conventional, brain-centric views of human consciousness (yahoo.com).

A widely shared Upworthy piece identifies twelve simple habits that many men report as central to happiness. The list reflects enduring psychological truths about connection, appreciation, and personal meaning. For Thai readers, these ideas resonate with local values around family, community, and mindful living.

In Thailand’s fast-changing social landscape, men face new pressures—from urban workloads to shifting family roles. Mental health awareness is rising, yet candid conversations can still be challenging. The article’s core message—that happiness grows from everyday moments, trusted relationships, and personal choices—offers practical guidance that complements Thailand’s cultural emphasis on harmony, respect, and jai yen (cool heart).

A growing body of research suggests that softening our egos—focusing less on self-promotion and more on humility, empathy, and growth—can boost happiness and resilience. In a world that often rewards loud voices, new studies highlight the benefits of cultivating a “quiet ego.”

Modern life tends to celebrate visibility. Influencers rise, social networks urge us to stand out, and competition in the workplace pressures self-promotion. Yet recent research shows that this cultural shift may accompany higher levels of stress and lower well-being, especially among younger people. The idea of a quiet ego offers a balanced approach to identity: healthy self-awareness paired with genuine care for others.

A growing body of scientific research suggests that turning down the volume on our egos—focusing less on self-centeredness and more on humility, empathy, and growth—may be a key to greater happiness and resilience. In a culture increasingly dominated by loud personalities, especially on social media and in public life, new studies are bringing fresh attention to the psychological and social benefits of nurturing what psychologists call a “quiet ego.”

Modern life tends to reward those who promote themselves. The prolific rise of influencers, the ever-present pressure to stand out on social networks, and the competitive edge in the workforce all encourage loud, self-focused behavior. Yet, as highlighted in a recent Atlantic article, there is evidence that this cultural shift coincides with record-high levels of depression and declining overall well-being, especially among young people.

A groundswell of new research is challenging the widespread perception that gossip is simply a destructive habit, with evidence emerging that exchanging tidbits about others can actually benefit our mental health and strengthen social bonds. According to psychology experts cited in a recent Fox News report, indulging in gossip—in moderation—could be a surprisingly positive force in our daily lives, while cautioning that, as with many things, too much can turn sour (Fox News). Scientific publications and scholars are re-examining the nature and potential good of gossip, compelling societies like Thailand to re-evaluate how these informal conversations fit into communal life.

The Kalama Sutta, known in Thai as กาลามสูตร, is among the Buddha’s most influential teachings. It urges people to assess information and beliefs rather than blindly accepting them. For Thai high school students immersed in a flood of information—from social media, classrooms, and peers—this teaching remains essential.

Why is this ancient principle still relevant in modern Thailand? At its core, the Kalama Sutta teaches how to think, not what to think. The Buddha delivered this guidance to a community confused by contradictory claims, asking whom to trust. Rather than prescribing a single path, the sutta offers ten cautions against uncritical acceptance. It advises examining beliefs by their outcomes: if they harm, reject them; if they lead to good and happiness, consider adopting them.

The Kalama Sutta, or “กาลามสูตร” in Thai, stands as one of the most influential teachings by the Buddha, known for encouraging people not to blindly believe in information or beliefs without thoughtful consideration. For Thai high school students growing up in a world of overwhelming information—on social media, in the classroom, and from peers—understanding the Kalama Sutta is both empowering and essential.

Why does this ancient Buddhist principle remain relevant in modern Thailand? At its heart, the Kalama Sutta (as explained in sources such as Wikipedia and multiple other Thai dharma platforms) teaches us how to think, not what to think. The Buddha gave this teaching to the Kalama people, who were confused by contradictory spiritual teachers. Participating youth of the time wondered: “Whom should we believe?”

The phrase “Real Buddhism let you ask questions, not dictate answers” has gained resonance both in global discussions about spirituality and within Thailand, Buddhism’s only officially recognized nation-wide religion. At first glance, this provocative statement challenges many assumptions about tradition, faith, and authority. Its significance runs deeper than mere semantics—it gestures toward what some see as the essential, originally intended nature of Buddhist practice and philosophy, a perspective highly relevant for Thai readers living in a society where Buddhism often intersects with culture, education, and public life.

The claim that “Real Buddhism lets you ask questions, not dictate answers” has gained traction worldwide and resonates deeply in Thailand, where Buddhism is the national faith. The statement challenges assumptions about tradition, authority, and belief. It points to an authentic spirit of Buddhist practice—one that Thai readers recognize in a society where faith intersects with education, culture, and public life.

To understand the idea, we should look to the Buddha’s era, when inquiry was welcomed. Buddhist texts show a different approach from many faiths that emphasize fixed doctrine. The Kalama Sutta, cited by Thai teachers, records the Buddha advising a village audience: do not rely on hearsay, tradition, or scripture alone. Instead, test and verify what is wholesome for yourself. A Bangkok Dhamma teacher notes that Buddhism invites doubt, experimentation, and direct experience—never blind faith. Seen this way, real Buddhism becomes a journey of inquiry and discovery.

New research is reshaping the idea that gossip is purely harmful. Studies suggest that sharing small, accurate information about others can benefit mental health and strengthen social bonds when done in moderation. Experts say gossip can function as social navigation, helping people decide who to trust while maintaining group cohesion. This perspective invites Thailand to rethink how casual conversations fit into daily life.

In Thai culture, gossip often carries a stigma, associated with discord or reputational harm. The proverb “Silence is golden” reflects a long-standing value placed on discretion. Yet in workplaces, schools, temples, and family gatherings, conversations about others persist. These exchanges can entertain, offer warnings, or reinforce community norms, alongside the risk of harm.

A groundbreaking study published in Nature has delivered unexpected results in the scientific quest for understanding consciousness, challenging two of the most prominent theories about its origins and offering fresh insights with potential to reshape clinical neuroscience worldwide. The findings reveal that neither Integrated Information Theory (IIT) nor Global Neuronal Workspace Theory (GNWT)—the cornerstones of modern consciousness research—can fully account for how human conscious experience arises, redirecting scientific focus to the brain’s sensory areas and raising critical implications for patient care and brain injury diagnosis (Neuroscience News).

A recent Nature study reshapes thinking on consciousness by challenging the two leading theories and focusing attention on the brain’s sensory regions. The work, conducted with a large, diverse group of participants and led by researchers from a major research institution, suggests that neither Integrated Information Theory (IIT) nor Global Neuronal Workspace Theory (GNWT) alone can fully explain conscious experience. The findings emphasize sensory processing as a core driver of awareness, with important implications for patient care and brain-injury diagnosis in Thailand and beyond.

Recent research and expert opinion from leading child health advocates underscore a growing crisis in sex education: parents are increasingly reluctant to discuss sexual health with their children, while the availability of formal sex education in schools continues to decline. This trend, highlighted in a recent article by a renowned sexual health expert in the Philadelphia Inquirer, has profound implications for both Western and Thai families, particularly as children turn to unregulated online sources or even pornography in place of accurate, age-appropriate information (inquirer.com). The article draws upon decades of international research supporting the benefits of parent-led sex education and offers urgently needed strategies for parents who wish to guide their children responsibly.

Recent research and expert opinion from leading child health advocates point to a growing crisis in sex education: many parents are hesitant to discuss sexual health with their children, while school-based programs are not keeping pace. A prominent health expert’s analysis highlights how this gap affects both Western and Thai families, especially as children seek information online. Research indicates parent-led conversations can boost understanding, safety, and trust, while providing practical strategies for responsible guidance.

A new study has revealed that lucid dreaming is not simply a vivid form of REM sleep, but constitutes an entirely unique state of consciousness—one with neurological hallmarks that set it apart from both waking and ordinary dreaming. This major breakthrough in sleep science, published in The Journal of Neuroscience, offers tantalising implications for understanding the human mind and may one day help people harness more of their cognitive potential—even outside of sleep.

A recent research study has revealed a fascinating psychological bias: while most individuals believe they are destined for good karma, they tend to expect that others will receive the opposite—bad karma. This counterintuitive finding, highlighted in a new article on CNN Health, offers profound insights into how beliefs in cosmic justice impact our perception of ourselves and those around us.

Karma, a concept rooted in Buddhist and Hindu traditions—and widely influential in Thai society—suggests that moral actions determine future consequences. The study’s results underline how this ancient belief manifests in modern attitudes, with significant psychological and social implications for communities shaped by Buddhist sensibilities like Thailand’s.

A new study reveals a curious psychological pattern: people often feel confident that they themselves will experience good karma, while expecting others to face bad karma. The finding offers insight into how beliefs about cosmic justice shape how Thai communities view morality, fault, and outcomes.

Karma, rooted in Buddhist and Hindu traditions and deeply influential in Thai culture, is often seen as a guide to conduct and future consequences. The study suggests that modern attitudes still reflect this ancient idea, with potential effects on how individuals relate to one another and respond to social events. According to researchers featured in the study, many people view their own actions through a forgiving lens, while predicting harsher consequences for those they deem morally wrong.

A recent collaboration between Chinese and French neuroscientists has produced groundbreaking findings on the neural mechanisms underlying consciousness, signaling potential advances in how the human mind is understood and how altered states of awareness might be approached in medical settings. This research, as reported by the South China Morning Post, has captured the global scientific community’s attention by illuminating the intricate neural networks believed to govern conscious experience, and it raises important implications for the future of neuroscience, medicine, and even philosophy.

Financial anxiety is rising and people are feeling its toll on both health and daily decision-making. While research on money-related stress often centers on the United States, the implications are global. Economic uncertainty can ripple into physical well-being and cognitive performance, including focus and problem-solving abilities that matter at work and in daily life.

The link between money worries and health is well established, but recent work highlights a deeper impact on cognitive function. People under financial pressure report higher anxiety, which can create a psychosomatic loop that worsens mental health, affects judgments, and reduces overall life satisfaction. In an era of rapid change and debt scrutiny, this matters for everyone, including Thai households navigating post-pandemic recovery and rising living costs.

In a world increasingly fraught with stressors, a growing number of experts advocate for micro-meditations as an effective remedy CNBC. With stress levels surging due to economic uncertainties and extreme weather conditions, according to a recent March study, people seek ways to calm their rising anxiety. Dr. Esther Sternberg, a prominent physician and author, emphasizes that micro-meditations can be performed anywhere and require minimal time commitment, offering immediate relief.

This growing stress mirrors the sentiments expressed by many of Dr. Neha Chaudhary’s patients, who are grappling with unprecedented levels of stress. Chaudhary, a respected psychiatrist, underscored the necessity of integrating stress-reduction techniques into daily life, particularly as political and economic tensions rise, with recent global tariffs announced by President Donald Trump adding to financial insecurities.

In a world filled with daily pressures, micro-meditations are gaining traction as quick, practical stress relief. Recent discussions and expert opinions highlight how tiny, focused moments can calm the mind without demanding much time. A March study noted rising anxiety as people face economic uncertainties and extreme weather, prompting more individuals to seek fast, accessible ways to feel grounded. Dr. Esther Sternberg, a noted physician and author, explains that micro-meditations can be done anywhere and require only brief periods, offering near-immediate relief.