The Study of an Influence of Paññāsajātaka to Thai Society

Abstract

      The purposes of this research, “The study of an influence of Paññāsajātaka to Thai society” are (1) to study the background and importance of Paññāsajātaka     (2) to study the belief in Paññāsajātaka, and (3) to study an influence of Paññāsajātaka in Thai society.

      The results of this study found that:

1. Background and importance of Paññāsajātaka was an ancient literary Buddhist work which was compesed by Chiangmai monk about 2000-2200 B.E. The composition, based on tales from various sources in which explained to “Jataka”, composed by bringing tales from Jataka and folk tales to convert into stories according to the name by written in Pali, there are prose and spell or poetry which spread to nearby countries, such as Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos etc. The well-known Jataka are Suthon Jataka and Sawannasung Jataka.


2. The belief in Paññāsajātaka had belief in karma, sins, merit, hell, heaven and previous life. Paññāsajātaka believed that human can’t infringe, avoid or change it, they must compensate that retribution, Paññāsajātaka also believed that power of an attempt only helps themselves to go to heaven or free from round of existences, so this belief made most people in Paññāsajātaka conceived of collecting good karma for finding a happiness in the next life. Moreover, Paññāsajātaka believed in the supernatural for things engendered proper things to themselves and it can eliminate, expel and prevent them from disturbing or harming.


3. The influence of Paññāsajātaka in Thai society indicated that Buddhism plays an important role in addition to Buddha teaching, religious places and religious object. The evidence of the relationship between Buddhism and Thai society conveyed to literature, as is evident from the propagation of Buddhist principles on piety the pragmatics of Buddhism doctrine of Buddhists by presenting in a narrative form or Jataka in order to engender an understanding and be able to use in life, specially, creating merit, various rituals such as creating the Tripitaka, creating Buddha images, repairing decayed lodging, sprinkle water onto a Buddha Statue, and Kathin traditions by beliefs that good deeds will make a better life both in the present and next life by having completely happy with various factors.