ABSTRACT

This thesis entitled “A Comparative Study of the Concept of Water in Theravada Buddhism and Hinduism”, it is of three objectives, e.g., 1) to study of the concept of water in Theravada Buddhism , 2) to study the concept of water in Hinduism, and 3) to comparatively study of the concept of water in Theravada Buddhism and Hinduism. This study is the documentary research in the religious texts.

From the research, it is found that:-

In the perspective in Theravada Buddhism, the water is the main factor of all living beings, plants, animals, and microbe. If without water, living beings cannot live, because the water is the important factor of living things. The one said that “without water, without living things”. The water is the important composition and necessary for cell, it is neither plant cell nor animal. All cells are consisted of water. The water is composition of all things, all elements, all materials, and all livings, because all these are composition of water.

In the perspective in Hinduism, an occurrence of Ganges River for the expiration of sin of human beings, that is the cause of influence of Hindu’s faith until the present. The water is communication tool for comparative teaching of Dhamma in the benefit of water. It is significance of Dhamma that should be considered and should bring to apply into daily life in the society.

Even though Buddhism has classified the issues of the water’s influence more than Hinduism. In the overview, it can be divided into two kinds, e.g., 1) using water in the religious ritual, and 2) using water for teaching Dhamma for living in the primary ethics. The way of attainment of the goal in Buddhist’s perspective is Nibbāna, and then, in Hinduism is Moksha. It is to consider changing of water that is impermanence, and rising and falling as well.

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