KUSALA DHARMA: CONCEPTUAL METAPHOR THROUGH A PERSPECTIVE OF PHRA BRAHMAGUNABHORN

Abstract

         This article presents an analytic study on the metaphor expressions and conceptual metaphor of Kusala Dharma in the Buddhist writings, a set of the 46 recommended Buddhist writings for Buddhist, by Phra Brahmagunabhorn on a website: www.book.watnyanaves.net. The study outcome highlighted 62 metaphoric expressions that could be classified into 9 conceptual metaphors. The most distinguished ones were Kusala Dharma is Journey followed by Kusala Dharma is Liberation, Kusala Dharma is Cleaning, Kusala Dharma is Remedy, Kusala Dharma is Lighting], Kusala Dharma is Eating, Kusala Dharma is Heat Relief, and Kusala Dharma is War]; the least distinguished was Kusala Dharma is Planting. According to his personal concept or experience, Phra Brahmagunabhorn compared these 9 conceptual metaphors of Kusala to 9 types of activity or incident in human’s daily life.