LIFE CYCLE RITUAL BELIEFS AND PERSPECTIVES RELATED TO THE MULTICULTURALISM OF BUDDHISTS IN THAILAND

Abstract

The research aims to study the history of life cycle rituals, characteristics of Thai Buddhist beliefs, and study life cycle rituals in terms of beliefs that reflect multicultural dimensions by using interviews with the perspectives of those involved, including: Including 4 cultural scholars and 40 folk philosophers who perform rituals and studying information from documents, textbooks, books, articles and databases on related networks. Take the information obtained Analyze the content and create a summary together until the conclusion of the research is found to be the most complete as follows:

1. Study the history of life cycle rituals and the characteristics of Buddhist beliefs in Thai society. Rituals related to the life cycle are rituals that show changes. The status of a person from one status to another is a ritual that occurs only once in a lifetime, such as birth rituals, male puberty rituals, ordination rituals, marriage rituals, death rituals, etc. Each tradition is important in life to create morale for life. However, the rituals that are performed are based on beliefs based on Buddhist principles. And based on the beliefs of the older generation, the form is combined, making the rituals adapt to the times, so it is a harmonious culture. Since life cycle rituals are based on beliefs, they have no fixed form. They depend on the views and beliefs of experts in each locality.
2. Study the life cycle rituals in terms of beliefs that reflect the multicultural dimension.

2.1 Birth Rituals Each region is a matter of beliefs embedded in the local equipment that is created. Most people therefore create a cultural dimension in the form of beliefs that bring comfort.

2.2 Ordination rituals the most prominent region is the North, which is the ordination of a novice monk, "Luk Kaew" It is a tradition that comes from beliefs, so there are rituals created by people to show the value of ordination. It is a social context that is a unique social dimension, and in terms of economy, it is the distribution of income to the local area.

2.3 Wedding ceremonies Each region is a matter of cultural dimensions. Social class, combined with beliefs in the form of the ceremony that are embedded in traditions. In terms of economy, it is a matter of organizing the format of the event according to the status of the host.

2.4 Funeral rites in each region are a matter of social class dimensions, combined with local beliefs. Reflecting the ritual form that has hidden meanings in terms of morality and ideas, resulting in a unique tradition that occurs in local communities and society.

In conclusion, this research provides information on the history of life cycle rituals and the characteristics of Buddhist beliefs. Life cycle rituals in terms of beliefs and faith in Thai society and culture are diverse and different. The results of the study found that rituals and traditions in Thai society in various regions cover beliefs and dimensions of culture, society and economy. In terms of cultural dimensions, it can be seen that: Birth, ordination, wedding, and funeral rites have different rituals in different areas. Each area has beliefs passed down from ancestors, which shows the uniqueness of that area. At present, it has been adjusted to keep up with the times so that the culture will remain. The rituals in each region of Thai society, which are embedded in the form of traditions, reflect the beliefs of people in Thai society and the cultural context in many dimensions. For example, in terms of economic dimensions and social class dimensions, each region has its own distinctive ritual traditions, becoming a unique identity and Thai cultural heritage that should be promoted and preserved for the future.