This thesis aims at a study of the meanings, characteristics and the categories of Balajana (the fools) which are found in the Suttantapitaka and to find out the impact of being associated with Balajana. All data were analyzed by the descriptive method.

The results are shown that the Balajana means ones who regularly misconducts by their mental actions, verbal actions and bodily actions or men who live their lives without wisdom. They are fools and never know what is called wholesomeness and unwholesomeness, utilized and unutilized. They are unable to develop themselves and others in this life and life after. The characteristic of Balajana can be recognized by the three evil conducts, namely, evil conduct in act, word and thought. The Balajana in this world always misconducts in thought, word and action. The classification of the fools (Balajana) has their own visible and invisible characteristics, that is to say, the invisible characteristic of the fools can be defined as ones who always misconduct in act, word and thought. They live their lives in the society and can persuade other down to the state of fools and face with trouble. The invisible characteristics of fools are appeared in the form of the defective person and never know the Four Noble Truths. The Balajana which is found in the Suttantapitaka is consisting of the Balajana by birth, external factor and internal factor. The examples of the Balajana by birth were Phra Devadata, Cincamanavika. The Balajana by the internal factor were the ones who consist of ignorance, delusion and unwholesomeness leading to greed, hatred and delusion. The examples of the Balajana by internal factor found in Suttatapitaka were King Suppabuddha, Nandamanava and Kokalika Bhikkhu. The Balajana by external factor were the persons who are associated with the fools as Phra Angulimala and King Ajattasattu.

The affectation of association with the fools (Balajana) not only appeared to ones who are associated with them individually but also to their families, communities, countries and Buddhism in term of concrete and abstract. All of these are causes of the deterioration of the goods such as wholesomeness, acquisition, happiness and Nibbana. Those affectations have shown only the degeneration to ones associating with the fools as mentioned above

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