ABSTRACT

This thesis is aimed at studying three objectives; they are 1) to study the relationship between the Buddhist rite and the ceremony of communication with spirit at Salasamakkee community, Ban Chob Sub-district, Sangkha District, Surin Province 2) to study belief in the ceremony of communication with spirit at Salasamakkee community, Ban Chob Sub-district, Sangkha District, Surin Province 3) to study influence of belief in the ceremony of communication with spirit to religion, medication, education, communication, economics, governance and politics, society, and culture of Salasamakkee community, Ban Chob Sub-district, Sangkha District, Surin Province. The research methodology is to study from the scriptures of Tipitaka, Commentary, texts, and related academic documents, including data collecting from the study field. 

The research results are as follows:

The relationship between the Buddhist rite and the ceremony of communication with spirit concerns with Dhamma practice, recitation, observation of the vegetable eating, food offering, Sangha offering, the Kathin ceremony, Forest robe, and public welfare. Beliefs in the ceremony of communication with spirit can be mainly divided into the belief in Buddhism and in other aspects. The mediums who believe in Buddhism would do the highest performance of the Dhamma practice and chant several Pali stanzas, for example, the homage to the Triple Gem, the Devata invitation stanza, the Buddhaguna stanza, the Tipitaka abbreviation stanza, the Jinapanjara Gatha, the Jayamamgara stanza, and the Mamgara Cakkavara stanza, etc., at the time before starting the ceremony; and would do the following performance of merit making on various occasions. The mediums who believe in other aspects would perform the annually Wai Kru ritual, medication, removal of occult, life prolonging ritual, etc. respectively.

There are three kinds of animism of the Suay-Kui ethnic group; they are the belief in ghost, the belief in Buddhism, and the belief in Kho Kha Lam. Each ceremony has got its own meaning to a particular community. It is influenced by a particular tradition, culture, and belief in Buddhism such as worshiping with flower, incense and candle, and forgiveness asking ceremony. This is indirectly Buddhism propagation.

There are two conditions to have the ceremony of communication with spirit of the Suay-Kui ethnic group; they are the vowing on the occasion of being ill and the occasion of curing the patients. Though the patients have been given medical treatment by modern medicine, they can be treated by the ceremony of communication with spirit for the purpose of encouragement. Therefore, in the time of performing the ceremony of communication with spirit, there would be the gathering of patients’ relatives and people in the community for the sake of giving the encouragement. The ceremony is most emphasized on mental health such as asking for forgiveness to the ancestors, teachers, or holy things.

On the aspect of influence of belief in the ceremony of communication in the community, it is found that the ceremony of communication with spirit aims at curing the patients or fate forecasting of which relies on the outer power i.e. supernatural power. This ceremony has been derived from the past and existed to the present time which is known as the modern age. It becomes the custom of the community. At present, the ceremony of communication with spirit has got influence to the society in various aspects such as religion, medication, education, communication, economy, politics, and social and cultural aspects.

Download