Abstract

The objectives of this research are declared of three kinds namely to study the concept, of Sukhavati Buddhaksetra in Mahayana Buddhism, and to analyze the interpretation of Sukhavati Buddhaksetra and in Thai Buddhist societies.

The findings of this study are concluded as follows:  

From the research, it is found that the conceptual Sukhavati Buddhaksetra has  originated and developed along with the history of Mahayana Buddhism.  Both Mahayana and Sukhavati Buddhaksetra were of  the conceptual influence by several conditions, for instance, Buddha – Bhumi ideal, sociality, and Buddha – Mahayana philosophy.  All concept formats the principle of scripture for propagation, worship, Dhamma performance, and the method of life target achievement that arose at the Western type of Sukhavati Buddhaksetra in Pure Land.  These concepts are influencial to encourage the Buddhists’ faith so as to create cultural arts, literatures, and relationship of Mahayana Buddhist life.  This legacy is original for setting up  Mahayana – Buddhism called Pure Land School.

The Sukhavati interpretation has been explained since the former time and developed to the present style of interpretation in three groups.  Group one: the Scriptural interpretation which states  the Descriptive Buddha Land that also contains the method of Pure Land achievement.  This group interprets that the fact, Sukhavati Buddhaksetra is a unit of the Universe, located far way from this land to the West.  Furthermore, it mentions the human, beings, the places and the time.  Group two: Psychological interpretation which states that Sukhavati Buddhaksetra is a mental condition to approach the enlightened person, waker and the delighted person or a person who has a through knowledge in Bodhi.  The Holy people in Sukhavati are defined for virtues in mind that happens and achieves at the same place.  Therefore Sukhavati in group two is the exposition in terms of ideas to attain their mind enlightenment. Group three is interpretive in social Buddhist concept that Sukhavati Buddhaksetra can instill into the psychics to understand the bodhi and to reflect creatively to social contentment. They are built up to concrete “Sukhavati on Earth” by public benefits conducting to assist the happiness in sociehes.

From All the above interpretations it is found that the group one was concerned with the exposition in terms of persons to contain more scriptures, conceptual framework from interpreters, social environment, attitudes and interpreters’ experience. From and the psychological tools it is found that it is originated from conceptual basis regarding the conventional truth, and the absolute truth to relate with the Buddha’s real volition , confidence fulfillment and wisdom.  That reaction was a conceptual exposition in terms of idea form.  The social interpretation was based on religional ideal to applied to the truth that current Thai Buddhism is the same as the form to explain the hell, the heaven and the Buddha’s Dharma for social creativity.