The Ascertainment and Reservation System the Ancient Scriptures Kept in Monasteries and Publicizing Central Wisdom to up rise a Local Learning Source in Central Thailand Provinces

Abstract

The present research has manifested three major objectives; 1) to study, compile and classify the Buddhist ancient scriptures in the central Thailand monasteries 2) to analyze the contents and provide the indexes in the Buddhist ancient scriptures in the central Thailand monasteries and 3) to promote and reserve the ancient scriptures for the purpose of the Buddhist learning center and culture in the central Thailand monasteries.    

It has been found that the contents, structures as well as the classification systems of the ancient scriptures at the present time have been divided and compiled into five systems. Although the knowledge classification systems were similar, it was probably different at the major emphasis, in particular, when the grouping of the five systems were combined.

            The scopes of knowledge stated in the knowledge classification systems as demonstrated in the Buddhist ancient scriptures at the present time were the scopes of religious cognitions. These represented the details of Buddhism that generally appeared in the forms of several sub-sections and sub-categories. The said scopes have been categorized into the following forms viz. a Birth story, a Doctrine, a Commentary, a Commentary of the Discipline basket, a Commentary of the Basket of Discourses, a Commentary of the Basket of the Higher Doctrine, prayer books, Pali scriptures and a collection or group of the discourses in the Sutta Pitaka. Meanwhile, the statistical research results found in each of the provinces were as follows: Suphan buri,  Nonthaburi, Pathumthani, Phra PaNakhon Si Ayutthaya and Chai Nat were found that the knowledge classification systems of the ancient scriptures at the present time have not been held on all of the details of the ancient scriptures. Further, each of the knowledge classifications demonstrated under the consideration were not scrupulously and comprehensively provided the explanations of the scopes of knowledge, as well as, not classified it into the sub-sections and sub-categories precisely.                  

Keywords: Knowledge classification, ancient scripture