The Analysis of Value and Importance of Mahasangkathan Tradition for Enhancing Peaceful Society: A Case Study of Sawai Subdistrict, Prang Ku District, Sisaket Provice

Abstract

This the reserch article consisted of three objectives, namely: 1) to study conditions, meanings, and the brief history of Mahasangkathan Tradition of Sawai Sub district, Prang Ku District, Sisaket Province, 2) to study the way of promotion of Mahasangkathan Tradition for Theravada Buddhism and Thai society, and 3) to analyze and present the way of promotion of the peaceful community according to Mahasangkathan Tradition of Sawai Sub district, Prang Ku District, Sisaket Province. This was the qualitative research; an in-depth interview, a focus group discussion, the training or the experiments from Buddhist scholars, leaders, and participators. Present research result by depiction. The research results were as follows: 1. The conditions, meanings, and the brief history of Mahasangkathan Tradition of Sawai Sub district found that Sawai Sub district contains 10 villages. Having population of 4,076 people which included 2,027 men, 2,098 women from different tribes. Villagers have several tribes. Having Mahasangkathan Tradition together since 2556BE for the purposes of unity and harmony of the community and conserve Buddhist Lent tradition. By the participation of the village, the group of monks, the community leaders, and the villagers. Having this for every temple is called Mahasangkathan. 2. The conceptual idea of Mahasangkathan Tradition for Theravada Buddhism and Thai society found that Mahasangkathan Tradition is to give offerings contain 2 types which are Patikodlikkathan, to give to a specific person and Sangkathan, to give to an unspecific person or a large group of monks. This giving provides more merit than Patikodlikkathan. Sangkhathan is to give, help, share, and to decrease miserliness. Giving is together with Thai society for a long time. 3. The value and the importance of Mahasang- kathan Tradition for the peacefulness of the community of Sawai Sub district, Prang Ku District, Sisaket Province are as follows: Supporting the unity in the community, supporting tradition, the temples are the center, decreasing the greed, and supporting equality when every temple holds the event.