This dissertation entitled ‘The Dissemination of Buddhism through Myth of the Five Buddhas: A Case Study of Wat Phra Yod Khunphon Wiang Kalong, Chiang Rai’ has three objectives: 1) to study the belief of five Buddhas in Buddhist scriptures and Thai society, 2) to study the belief of five Buddhas in Wat Phra Yod Khunphon Wiang Kalong, Chiang Rai province and 3) to study the dissemination of Buddhism through Myth of the Five Buddhas in Wat Phra Yod Khunphon Wiang Kalong, Chiang Rai province. This is a qualitative research done by documentary studies and in-depth interview.
In the research, it was found that five Buddha basically refer to five Buddhas in this Bhaddakappa: Kakusandha, Konãgamana, Kassapa, Gotama and Sriãriyametteyya. The real existence of the mentioned five Buddhas appeared in both primary and secondary Buddhist scriptures. It is believed that Thai society comes to know five Buddhas more than other Buddhas through various folk literatures which are available in different regions by means of two dimensions: the Buddha in the Buddhist scriptures and in Buddhist legendary tales. In this matter, three sub-aspects were found that five Buddhas in the form of albinistic crow and an albinistic crow mixing with form of five Buddhas. In Lanna, this belief prevails like other regions but it is a bit of change in its form; an albinistic crow and a mixed form of an albinistic crow with five Buddhas. The aforesaid belief is somehow transferred into literature/folktale the Buddhist arts, culture, and Buddhist belief.
Geographically speaking, Wat Phra Yod Khunphon Wiang Kalong is located in the area of ancient city named Wiang Kalong whereby its geographical name was associate with the myth of an albinistic crow whose relationship was linked to the temple. It was believed that this ancient city used to be the Buddha’s land and thereby providing the myth of the albinistic crow and five Buddhas. With respect to this story, some virtues, gratitude, threefold training, sublime states of mind and Bodhisattva’s cultivation of perfections were found in accordance with Lanna’s belief on the law of Kamma, Nibbãna, Deva and benefit respectively.
As far as the story goes, the regional literature on five Buddhas has been introduced and used by Wat Phra Yod Khunphon Wiang Kalong as the media to promulgate Buddhism wherein six factors were made: 1) initiators’ faith and belief, 2) city’s history of location, 3) Buddhist scriptures and folktales, 4) ways of life and community’s culture, 5) regional tradition and custom, and 6) the ultimate goal. In these ways, the process and production of media were purposely created to propagate Buddhism as follows: 1) the creation of tale by which the symbol and teaching are mythologized, 2) landscape architecture is beautifully and suitably arranged in accordance with nature where the Wiang Kalong’s culture is born, 3) simplification of teachings in a concise and straight manner through the words, Kataññũ, Mettã and Cãca is made, 4) Dhammic society is created through establishment of school, donation hall, factory and Dhamma hall, 5) teachings are assimilated by regional culture where the light of Dhamma day is provided, and 6) the mutual goal is made to motivate and encourage those practitioners of Dhamma by means of fixation of its formation in living life where five precepts based society is established. As a result, the following benefits were gained: 1) it leads to more understanding of Buddhas’ stories, 2) the new guidelines to promulgate Buddhism are created, 3) the practitioners’ quality of life is escalated, and 4) peaceful society is thereby made. In this research, new body of knowledge concerning with the propagation of Buddhism was formed as WEE-KALONG MODEL, this could be utilized as the alternative guideline for other temples while applying the mentioned knowledge into their practices.
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