The study entitled ‘An Analytical Study of Pubbapetabalã Found in Bailan-Lanna : ACase Study of WatLaungrajsanthanCopy’ has three aims (1) to investigate the principle of Pubbapetabalã in the Tipiñaka, (2) to study Pubbapetabalã and its background recorded in Pubbapetabalã scripture, WatLaungRajsanthan version, and (3) to analyze Pubbapetabalã scripture and its influence on Lanna people. This is a document research of which findings are shown in descriptive format along with the researcher’s view to answers to research objective and required problems.
Findings indicated that the principle of Pubbapetabalã in the Tipiñaka is firstly initiated by Bimbisàra, the king of Magadha, in the time of the Buddha to transfer merit to his departed relatives who were born in hungry ghost world. When this principle is taken into consideration, it is included in Five Balãkamma, a subheading of the Bhoga-àdiya recorded in AdiyaSutta and PattakammaSutta of Angutta Nikàya respectively. Pubbapetabalã kamma, one of the five offerings, is an offering dedicated to the departed. In addition to the said objective, it also indicates grateful deed to the deceased.
From the background information in the Pubbapetabalã scripture, WatLaungRajasanthan version, findings shows that plot as in Pubbapetabalã scripture is from the same event when Bimbisàra started Pubbapetabalã kamma as the first example.
Besides, Pubbapetabalã presents Buddhist principles like Sãla, good and bad, donation, gratitude, seven noble properties, faith, meditation and carelessness, which should be taken into practice to lead individual and society to peace and harmony.
From the analytical study, the principles of Pubbapetabalã in the scripture give positive impacts to society in Lanna with various dimensions: (1) as a social control, employing the story of miserable state to public. This strategy helps society in establishing stability and unity to family and would lead to decrease social violence, (2) as traditional practice, people in Lanna region have handed down this tradition from one generation to another since ancient time. The tradition does not emphasize the merit dedication, it also supports monks and novices who are religious heirs and Buddhism as a whole. This tradition is also practiced in other regions of Thailand like Sartduan sip in the central, Boon khaopradabdin in Isan. |