Abstract

              This research on “The Pledge, Sacrifice: Concept, Principle and Influence on Thai Society” is of the following objectives; to study of concept and background of  the pledge and sacrifice on Thai society, to study its influence on Thai society and to study Buddhist Ethics in the pledge, sacrifice: a case study of Buddhachinaraj.  It is qualitative research. The data were analyzed by essay and its samples group were accidentally selected from from those who do the pledge, sacrifice towards Buddhachinaraj.

              It was that the pledge and sacrifice they have done are the aspiration of a child with good learning, recovery from sickness taking back of the lost things winning lottery, being good at learning, a good grade, a lucky man, a good status, a rich man, a high rank, a higher rank, in principle, votive offering must be given according to the agreement of the pledge and sacrifice.  The votive offering of the pledge, sacrifice are garlands, dancing, a boar’s head, fruits, a boiled eggs, a flowers, respect to Buddhachinarat.  Besides to be his child, to be a monk, to do good, to offer something to a poor man, to offer lunch to all people, to give lunch to the Buddhist monks.

              According to the way of life of ancient India, the people believed in the sacrificial ceremony (yañbidhī).  The pledge and sacrifice tend towards the violence to all being, to killing animals for sacrifice. But according to the Buddhist ethics, the Buddha changes new concept being called ‘the five sacrificial ceremonies’ (blïkamma) which is the form of social duty and welfare to each others.  One of  the five sacrifices is devatãbali (religious offering to gods) meaning good action to him and invitation of him  to attend some some ceremonies for perceiving and helping for safety and to give luck to people. For example, the successful pledge and sacrifice are Deva Dhammapalkumar who is the volunteer to answer three questions of zodiac from Deva Kapilapom.  He was also born from the pledge, sacrifice towards rukkhadev (tree god) by his parents. Thereby this influence happened according to Thai people according to belief in the pledge and sacrifice for aspiration of a child or other luck. Not only the pledge and sacrifice are done with Buddhachinaraj, but also with other holy images and other places. 

              Although Thai society is the Buddhist society, there is the ceremony of the pledge and sacrifice. It is not only the ceremony of common people but also of the Buddhists. Such case is compared between a man and a tree.  The tree is composed a splinter, alburnum and core.  Buddhist society flexible according to natural and social environment and on also according to the criteria of Buddhist morality decision.  Thai society regards the pledge and sacrifice basing on basis of Buddhist ethics with mindfulness in three levels;- the primary level - Paňca Sïla, the middle level -ten wholesome courses of action and the high level – the Eightfold path.