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This thesis is aimed at studying the concept of death and cremation ceremony tradition appeared in Theravada Buddhist scripture, studying the cremation ceremony tradition of Truad Sub-District community, Si Narong District, Surin Province, and analytical studying Dhamma riddles appearing in cremation ceremony of Truad Sub-District community, Si Narong District, Surin Province.
The result of studying the concept of death and cremation tradition appeared in Theravada Buddhist scripture is that death is a process of life finishing i.e. dying, the end of life. In Theravada Buddhism, the concept of death is considered to be natural to life process, but the essential of death makes us to cultivate good things in life. It can be the equipment to teach Dhamma and to exert Dhamma practice to achieve the Buddhist goal. The tradition of cremation ceremony appeared in Theravada Buddhist scripture is that in the Buddha’s time, there was cremation ceremony only for very important persons such as the Buddha, the Buddha’ s father, and some Bhikkhus. For the general people, there would be simple immediately ceremony such as burning, burying, leaving for animal’s food, and floating in the river.
The result of studying the cremation tradition in Truad Sub-District community which are Kuy or Suay people found that there are practices concerning traditions such as the practical norms to the dying persons, the practice to the dead bodies, the practice of cremation liturgy, the practice of cremation ordination, the leading dead body to cremation hall, the practice in cremation, collecting the bone ashes, and merit making in dedication to the dead. At present, there are some changes on the cremation ceremony tradition. In the former time, the dead bodies would be berried before burning, but at the present time, would make merit and burn in a few days later which is influenced by the tradition of the central part of Thailand. However, majority of members of the community still conform strongly to their belief and norms in merit making in dedication to the dead.
The result of analytical studying Dhamma riddles appearing in cremation ceremony of Truad Sub-District community found that the tradition reflects life value. The riddles found in the tradition are as follows; the practice to the dying persons signifies the mindfulness in dying, not to be in negligence, and seeing truth in five aggregates; the practice to the dead bodies signifies gratefulness and the three characteristics i.e. impermanence, state of suffering, and soullessness; the practice of cremation liturgy signifies the dedication of the dead and reciprocation; practices of cremation ordination and the leading dead body to cremation hall signify gratefulness and the construction of noble treasures; the practice in cremation signifies the reality of life i.e. impermanence, state of suffering, and soullessness, heedfulness in life, and mutual respect; the practices of bone ashes collecting and merit making in dedication to the dead signify gratefulness, reciprocation, and birth and rebirth. This would bless the dead to be in better birth. |
