DHAMMADHIPATEYYA: A BUDDHIST CONCEPT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE

Abstract

This academic article aims to explain and analyze the relationship between democratic governance and a Buddhist principle known as Dhammadhipateyya (the supremacy of the Dhamma). It examines canonical foundations, scholarly interpretations, and possible applications within the context of Thai politics, with the objective of enhancing the quality of democracy through a Buddhist-oriented political framework. The findings reveal that Dhammadhipateyya, as presented in the Pali Canon particularly in the Adhipateyya Sutta and the Cakkavatti Sutta constitutes one of the three forms of sovereignty: self-sovereignty (attadhipateyya), world-sovereignty (lokadhipateyya), and Dhamma-sovereignty (dhammadhipateyya). Its core principle is the “supremacy of the Dhamma,” encompassing both the level of just rules and legitimate regulations, and the higher level of truth, moral correctness, and the common good. These principles function as normative guidelines for decision-making and the exercise of power by leaders and citizens alike. The study further proposes a new body of knowledge by conceptualizing Dhammadhipateyya into two levels foundational Dhamma and higher Dhamma and translating them into two corresponding political mechanisms: the legal-righteous method, which emphasizes accountability in accordance with law and institutional rules, and the moral-righteous method, which evaluates actions based on ethical correctness and public benefit. The conceptual framework diagram presented in this article constitutes a key finding, as it illustrates the integrated structure between legal systems and moral consciousness in fostering a stable and sustainable democracy. It is recommended that the integration of Dhammadhipateyya into Thai democratic governance should involve the concurrent development of legal structures and the moral cultivation of power holders. The principal recommendation is the application of the “legal-righteous method–moral-righteous method” framework as an evaluative and developmental tool for Thai politics, ensuring that democracy is not only legally valid but also ethically legitimate in a substantive sense.