The purposes of this study had 3 main items: 1) to study the concept and the characteristics of the unity existed in Theravada Buddhist Texts; 2) to study the Dharma principles leading to the unity according to Theravada in Buddhism and 3) to apply the concept of unity in Thai society. This study was done in the form of Documentary Research by collecting the data from the Buddhist scripture of the Three Baskets, commentaries, textbooks, documents and related researches.
The results of this study revealed as follows:
The concept and the characteristics of the unity existed in
1. Theravada Buddhist Textbooks which could be divided into 2 points: the definitions appeared in the Tripitaka and the contexts in the Basket of Discipline. In the Basket of Discipline showed 3 characteristics of the unity: Sangharachi (the conflict within the group), Sanghaphate and Sanghasamakki. In Suttantapitaka (The Basket of Discourses) gave the definition of the word “unity” that to set the behaviors of physical, words and mind with kindness among friends and the others in the society without pretending to be more important than the others, but giving honor and also paying more attention to them, such doing assumed that we did the Dharma unity. In Abhidhammapitaka (the Basket of the Higher Doctrine) said about the unity concerned the happening of danger from 3 fires: Raga (passion), Dosa (anger) and Moha (ignorance). These three fires were the cause of the unity’s split among the people. For the definition in the contexts could be concluded that the unity was the expression of collaboration to work with efficiency to meet its achievement. The unity needed to have patience, dedication, sympathy and realization in the problems which had faced together. This could be happened by working together more often. The unity would create love and friendship among colleagues and could do anything successfully.
2. The Dharma principles leading to the unity according to
Theravada in Buddhism, it showed that to create the unity within the society was to join and cooperate each other very well since everyone had his own virtue in his mind to see that the others were his own brothers and sisters, behaved well to each other according to the principle of Dharma unity in order to reflect the importance of living together with peace and happiness by applying the Dharma principles to create the unity such as Sangahavatthu (principles of kindly treatment), Saraniyadhamma (states of conciliation) and Aprihaniyadhamma (conditions of welfare), having the principle of Dharma unity existed in Theravada Buddhist text as the basis of good behaviors for both individual and a whole society, linking them into the minds of each other, being beloved by each other, respecting and helping each other and holding on the unity which causing sympathy for all.
3. Applying the concept of unity in Thai society, it revealed
That Thai society needed the uniqueness of the people within the society, everyone had to participate and coordinate to do good things correctly according to the principles, regulations, agreements and morality which would drive Thai society to step forward to be the society of Dharma unity (republic) perfectly forever. So, everyone had to do his best on his duties perfectly and carefully, did not do anything to be as he wanted to or did because of his defilements and desire. Whenever everyone had no conflict, but had full unity, no matter whatever situations would happen like: flooding, fire and other bad ones to the country, religion and His Majesty the King, all Thai people could certainly prevent and protect ourselves from such events and could also correct them all. Thus, to study and practice according to the principle of unity applying as the guideline of living together would help Thai society to stay in peace, being a real house, a real community. Society would become a beautiful country because of the unity.
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