Abstract

This research “An Analysis of Buddhist Principle from Funeral Ceremony of Kalanda Community, Amphoe Muang Buriram, Buriram Province” consists of 3 objectives; 1) to study funeral ceremony in Buddhist scriptures 2) to study funeral ceremony of Kalanda community of Amphoe Muang Buriram, Buriram province and 3) to study Buddhist principle from funeral ceremony of Kalanda community, Amphoe Muang Buriram, Buriram Province. The research finds that death is the final procession of life, meaning the end of breath and the end of life. The concept of death in Buddhism shows that death is normal of life. Theravada Buddhism views that death is normal of life. The death can be instrumental to teach Dhamma till attain the final condition, Nibbana. There are 4 causes of death namely, end of life (Ayukhaya Marana), end of Kamma (Kamma Marana), both end of life and Kamma (Ubhayakkhaya Marana) and separation of Kamma (Upacchadaka Marana).

The funeral ceremony in Buddha time was managed only for an important person such as the Lord Buddha, the Buddha’s father and noteworthy monks. For the normal people, it was managed in simple way by cremation, burial, leave it in the forest and float it into the river.

For the funeral ceremony in Kalanda community, it finds that this community mixed with Kuw or Suow, Khamer and Laotian. Their ritual on funeral can see various ways, such as the practical tradition for the death, the chanting tradition for the death, the ordinated tradition for the death, the practical tradition for cremation, the tradition for collection of bones and the tradition of meritorious transfer for the death. This tradition is specific character of Kalanda community. Presently, the funeral ceremony of this community had changed from the previous time such as the dead were usually buried while in present the dead were cremated. Each community managed the dead by considering the family’s financial status. The ceremony carried on from the ancestors together with Buddhist ritual. And the main objective of this ceremony is to transfer merit for the dead.

The Buddhist principle can find from the funeral ceremony of Kalanda community is consciousness without death, consciousness remain, realized the Five Aggregates. For the practical tradition, it can find Buddhist principle such as the gratitude, respect and understand the Three Characteristics. For the chanting tradition for the death, it can find the Buddhist principle such as transfer merit to the dead and harmonious ceremony. For the ordinated tradition for the death, it can find the gratitude and make good deed. For the practical tradition of cremation, it can find the truth of life, namely, impermanent, suffering and non-self, unconsciousness on life and gratitude. And the tradition for collection of bones, it can find the Buddhist principle such as the gratitude and the rebirth in next world by the power of meritorious transfer. It is believed that the meritorious transfer will support the dead reborn in the bliss world.

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