This dissertation entitled “An Application of Mettā Spreading in Thai Society in accordance with the Theravada Buddhism” has three objectives: (1) to study the concept of Mettā Spreading found in Theravada scriptures, (2) to study the problems of Mettā in Thai society and, (3) to study analytically the Mettā Spreading in Thai society in accordance with Theravada Buddhism. This is a qualitative research.
The findings were found that according to Theravada Buddhism, best wishes especially towards their life and others having good desire, verbal and mental action that benefit sentient beings by its consideration of the good of the sentient beings. With the arising of craving, it results in the decline of loving-kindness. Mettā is antagonistic to the lust and malice. The types of specific and unspecific loving-kindness are as follow: (1) without enmity, (2) without violence (3) without suffering (4) happily self-protected in twelve persons and ten directions. Two qualifications of mettā-spreading person include (1) giving up the hindrances and (2) attaining the fourth trance.
The problem of lack of loving-kindness in the Thai society is found that based on corrupt and unwholesome conduct, They result in the damage of life and treasure as well as the destruction of oneself and others including family unit, society and nation. The effects of a lack of loving-kindness are expressed through three channels: body, speech and mind such as a punch, battle, murder, rape according to the newspapers, radios, televisions, online media, etc. It has facets of problems and causes such teenage arrogant behavior can affect life, property, health, body, mind, family, society and nation damaging to society, economy and nation. It is nutrimental both in the present and the future because the teenagers are the power of nation. To endow them with mettā, morality training based on Mettā is urgently and necessarily required. They can be endowed with understanding and handling their own problems. With the lack of teenager’s immorality, the nation will face the difficulty and worsen situation in the future.
The Analysis of the mettā Spreading in Thai society according to the Theravada Buddhism, problem-solving in Thai society has many ways of differing causes either environment and elements. It is the dhamma that is the basis of living. The researcher views that the corruption of Dhamma and Vinayā as early traditional practice has been on the increase and the lack of mettā in Thai society such as the inattention on temple and traditional culture are not drawing attention in the present day.
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