ABSTRACT

The purposes of this research titled of the perception towards the concept of hell and heaven in Theravada Buddhism : A case study of dhamma practitioners at Ratchasingkhon Temple were ; 1).to study the perception towards the concept of hell and heaven in theravada  buddhism of dhamma  practitioners  at rachasingkhon temple, 2).to comparative study the perception towards the concept of hell and heaven in theravada  buddhism of dhamma  practitioners  at rachasingkhon temple and  3).to study the relation between the perception towards the concept of hell and heaven in Theravada  Buddhism of dhamma  practitioners  at rachasingkhon temple.

The tool used for collecting data in the research is questionair, focusing on sample group - dhamma practitioners at Ratchasingkhon Temple. There are 259 participants for questionnaire respondence. The collected data was analysed by frequency distribution, percentage, mean, t-test, one-way ANOVA and the Pearson’s product moment correlation.

     The Results were as follows:

1).General information

The most of respondents consisted of 168 female (64.9 %), age more than 50 years old (31.7 %), 115 occupation others (59.8 %), 125 married (48.3 %), 99 bachelor (38.2 %) with income 7,000 – 15,000 bath, 111 persons (42.7 %), Job experience more than 20 years, 86 persons (33.2 %) and religious activity meritorious action / offer food to the monk, 113 persons (43.6 %)

2).The level  the perception

The finding showed that the respondents have high level of perception towards hell/heaven after death in total (x =3.82) which can be listed from the highest to the lowest as follow ; state of existence and the effect of suffering / happiness. The average can be shown that 3.85 ,3.82 and 3.69 respectively.

Whereas the respondents have high level of perception towards hell/heaven in daily life in total and each aspects, which can be listed from the highest to the lowest as follow ; the effect of suffering / happiness, behavioral effect and the state of existence. The average can be shown that 4.00 , 3.95 and 3.83 respectively.             

3).Difference in level the perception

The finding showed that there are the different in level of perception towards hell/heaven concepts between  respondents with difference in sex, marital status, level of education, monthly income and religious activities at 0.05 level. Whereas there are no difference in level of perception towards hell/heaven concept between respondents with difference in age and job experiences.

Whereas there are the different in level of perception towards the concept of hell and heaven in Theravada Buddhism of dhamma practitioners at Ratchasingkhon Temple who differ with sex, marital status and educational qualifications. Whereas there are no different in the perception of dhamma practitioners with differences in age, mouthly income, job experience and religious activities.         

4.)Relation between the perception

It is found that there are the relationship between the perception towards the concept of hell and heaven in Theravada Buddhism after death and in daily life in total and between overall aspects.