ABSTRACT

This Dissertation aims at analytical studying the concept of life prolongation  in Buddhism Influencing the life prolonging ritual in Roi-Ed and Surin Province. The objectives of this study are : (1) to study the concept of age  prolongation  in Theravada Buddhist scriptures (2) to study the life prolonging ritual in Roi-Ed Provinces and Surin Provinces (3) to analytically study the concept of life prolongation  in Buddhism Influencing the prolonging ritual in Roi-Ed Provinces and Surin Provinces.

The results of the study are as follows; According to Buddhism , The human being’ lives can be extended by following the activities in the ceremony called “Life Prolonging” as follows : (1) The giving of Dana (2) The psychic power (3) The knowing of the principle of life leading (4) Kamma power (5) The chanting the holy stanzas (6) The practice of the Four Parts of Accomplishment (7) The practice of the heedfulness (8) The determination (9) The radiation of loving-kindness (10) The economization in consuming.

Thai societies was influenced by the faith on the life prolongation from the base in the local belief ; Brahmanism , Astrology and Buddhism. So It is  the integrated belief. Although each region of the country, will be of the belief in the same life prolongation, it is of very different act.

For the rituals of the life prolongation in Roi-Ed province and in Surin Province it is found that in Roi-Ed Province especially in Chiang Khwan District, the Lao citizens have the belief in the life prolongation that has been influenced by local beliefs ; Buddhism and Brahmanism, but in Surin Province there is also the same belief as well as the Khmer and the Laotian group Each has of the rituals in the life prolongation differently.

From the analytical study of the concept of the age prolongation  in Buddhism Influencing the getting rid of the bad luck and the life prolonging ceremonies, it is found that the age prolongation  is derived from the original belief in spirits and in holy things, Brahma-Hinduism, and Buddhism. At the present time, the people in Roi-Ed Provinces and Surin Provinces like to have the getting rid of the bad luck and the life prolonging ceremonies with the Bhikkhus than the ordinary persons owing to the knowledge and the respect. The getting rid of the bad luck and the age prolonging ceremonies in Roi-Ed Provinces and Surin Provinces provide various principles of Buddhist teachings to the people such as Kamma, Katannukatavedi, and Appamada. Besides, the getting rid of the bad luck and the age prolonging ceremonies Roi-Ed Provinces and Surin Provinces brings us to various values, for example, the self-value i.e. having participated in the ceremonies. They felt happy in mind owing to the meritorious actions in giving, observing the precept, and the mental development.

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