ABSTRACT

                 The thematic paper, “Pardon in Thai Society according to Buddhist Teachings” had main objectives to study the concept and patterns of pardon in Thailand, England, and the United States of America, and to study analytically the pardon in Thailand in line with Buddhist teachings. A result of the present study was found in the following aspects. The study found as followed:

                      The pardon from the authority of the king who bestowed the prisoners his great compassion depended upon loving kindness and pardon from the leader of the country. This became a source of justice. The pardon in England issued by the kind was divided into two types: the conditioned pardon and the pardon without condition. As regard, the pardon in United States of America after had independence from England; the pardon was given by the president and the governor. In the case of Thailand, the king who was given absolute authority, he was always influenced by the Buddhist teachings. He found the Buddhist principles and managed the country in line with various Buddhist principles: Brahma-vihāradhamma, Cakkavattivattara, four objects of sympathy and the tenfold code of the king. These Buddhist Teachings were generally known as the principles by which the country was effective management. The pardon was possibly issued to a person, a group of people and the public when the important events came and the king himself was greatly given the authority to give the pardon.

                      The pardon in Thai society, Abhayadana and Ahosikamma according to Buddhism were related to each other. These patters of the pardon were basically done by means of intention in line with Buddhist teachings and the law of the state. When a person produced action, he had to think, look over, aim at, and consider it clearly. These aspects of action were mixed with the intention. The pardon played the important role on reducing the intensity of the conflict in Thai society because most of Thai people were Buddhist who had practically followed the Buddhist principles. In this analytical study, the new finding with regard to the pardon and a way to give the pardon in the present Thai society. This was proved that the Buddhist principles were available for all practice and produced a good fruit without the limitation of times (akāliko). This stood to the fact that the pardon was possibly given by the Buddhists. It was the great use of wisdom to develop life, mind under the materialism and consumerism including the quickly changed environment in the present Thai society.