An analytical Study of The Way to Promote Merit Making of Buddhists in Thungyai Sub-District Kantharalak District of Sisaket Province.

Abstract

The thesis entitled “A Study of the Way to Promote Merit-Making of Buddhists at Thung Yai Sub-district, Kantharalak Disrtrict, Sisaket Province” consists of three objectives: 1) to study the concept of merits according to Theravada Buddhism, 2) to study the merit-making of Buddhists at Thung Yai Sub-district, Kantharalak Disrtrict, Sisaket Province and 3) to analytically study the Way to Promote Merit-Making of Buddhists at Thung Yai Sub-district, Kantharalak Disrtrict, Sisaket Province. The research methodology used in this research is documentary one.

          From the study, It was found that the merit-making is bodily and mental good deeds, briefly consisting of three kinds: 1) giving, 2) precepts observance and 3) meditation practice. In details, the merit-making can be divided in seven more kinds: 1) humility, 2) services rendering, 3) merit sharing, 4) others’ merit rejoicing, 5) listening to the Doctrine, 6) teaching the Doctrine, and 7) straightening one’s views.

          The merit-making done by Buddhists at Thung Yai Sub-district consists of: offering alms to the monks in morning, making merits in occasional ceremonies, observing the five precepts, making merit for lessening defilements, offering the four requisites to the monks, abstaining from killing and avoiding the causes of ruin.

          For the way to promote the merit-making of Buddhists, it can be done through five ways: 1) merit-making by offering the four requisites, 2) merit-making dedicating to an individual monk, 3) merit-making dedicating to the Sangha, 4) merit-making by giving worldly knowledge and Dhamma, and 5) merit-making through forgiveness, non-enmity, security, and non-hatred.