Abstract

The objectives of this research are: 1) To study the meaning and the importance of Brahmavihãras  2) To study the exemplary persons  who apply the Brahmavihãras to the mental development 3) To apply Brahmavihãras to the mental development in Thai societies.

From the research, it is found that the Brahmavihãras are the states of minds for all human beings. In the other word they are called Appãmannãs spreading widely without limit. These Dhammas consists of Metta, Karuna, Mudita, and Upekkha. It is also the Dhamma to uphold the world. Because the Brahmavihãras are Kammatthanas. The practising of this group of Dhamma is the path of mental development according to the philosophy in Theravãda Buddhism which is very important. It is clearly seen that the Brahmavihãras are of the important roles in Dhamma for mental development and they are the foundations of advanced Dhammas for insight development.

The study of the human beings who apply the Brahmavihãras for developing the mind shows presents the importance of the Brahmavihãras for mental development, comprised of 1) Bodisatta, 2) the monks, 3) the Upasakas and 4) the Upasikas.

The result of the study can be presented as follows;

1.      Before Buddha’s time, the objective of the Brahmavihãras is that the human beings will be born in Brahmaloka with in  Brahmavihãra Dhammas.

2.      Either the poison or the beats cannot harm human beings because of the Brahmavihãras.  Furthermore, the human beings can be beloved by a celestial being and the celestial being would save them from anything..

3.      With the Brahmavihãras, the human beings can reach  Ratanattaya.   

The application of the Brahmavihãras to the  Mental Developing indicates that the Brahmavihãras are Dhammas and the morality for mental training and developing. Moreover, the human beings are in need of acknowledgement of the Loka-Dhamma. A person who has mental potentiality consisting of good will, understanding, and forgiveness will be able to solve every problem and stay in Loka-Dhamma, as it is said that the developed mind will be valuable and peaceful in the mind. The mental development by the Brahmavihãras is to begin with the smallest and the most critical societies which are the families headed by the father and the mother. This development will ensure that the Brahmavihãras will be permanently maintained in all practisers’s hearts from the individual to the social.