ABSTRACT

The purposes of this documentary research were (1) to study the Moral Boosting Ceremony and Moral Boosting Formulaic Poems recited in the ceremony held by the people in northeastern Thailand, (2) to study Buddhadhamma principles manifested in the Morale Boosting Formulaic Poems, and (3) to apply those Buddhadhamma Principles in daily life activities. Research results are described below.

Moralboosting or blessing ceremony (Baisee Su Kwan, in Thai) is the culture and tradition of Thai people living in northeastern Thailand. It is a solemn and sacred ceremony held to create the atmosphere of virtues and benevolence in the forms of worshiping, eulogizing, invoking, and offering to deities: gods, goddesses, or sacred beings, in order to gain good luck and favorable results in different stages of life. Morale boosting can be divided into three types: Morale boosting for human beings, animals, and things. This ceremony was derived from certain original beliefs in Brahmanism in conjunction with the influence of Buddhism. Therefore, the Morale Boosting Formulaic Poems were composed in the style specific to the northeastern dialect of Thailand.

Buddhadhamma principles found in the northeastern Morale Boosting Formulaic Poems recited in Naga Morale Boosting Ceremony consisted of  Triple Gem Virtues, Mara or The Evil One, Three Common Characteristics of Impermanence, Decay, and Non-self, Five Constant Reflections, Patimokkha or Core Teachings, Four Virtues Conducive to Growth, Six Types of Superknowledge,  Athipateyya or Supremacy , Two Types of Rare Individuals, Faith, Sotapanna or First Stream-Enterers, Religious Errands, Forty Concentration Methods, Panna or Wisdom, Unwholesome Kamma or Actions, Sexual Abstinence, Principles for Close and Distant Disciples, Respectful Actions, Concentration, Enlightenment, Nibbana or Complete Cessation of Suffering, and the Cycles of Births and Rebirths.

Buddhadhamma Principles found in Moral Boosting for Wedding Ceremony were Five Precepts and Five Ennobling Virtues, Dana or Charity, Kamma or Volitional Act, Metta or Loving Kindness, Six Causes of Ruin, Three Bases of Meritorious Action, Uposothasila or Eight Precepts for Laity, Four Virtues for Laity, Principles for Treating People in Six Directions, Seven Types of Wives, Ten Recommendations for Married Life. Buddhadhamma Principles found in Morale Boosting for Community Leaders were Four Sublime States of Mind, Four Biases, Eightfold Path, Five Precepts, Heedlessness, Four Bases of Social Solidarity, Principles for World Protection, Succarita or Clean Conduct, and Seven Virtues of  a Gentle Person.

Applications of Buddhadhamma principles found in Naga Moral Boosting Formulaic Poems were Two Types of Rare Individuals, Three Common Characteristics, Concentration Practice, Gratitude toward Parents, and Gratitude toward Other Helpful Individuals. This is because Buddhist ordination is regarded as paying back the debt of gratitude toward parents, and once the ordination takes place, one can study Dhamma in the holy scripture, apply it to the conduct of daily activities, gain insights into the realities of things through the understanding of the Three Common Characteristics and other Dhamma aspects for achieving the highest point of spiritual emancipation; one can also practice Kammatthana or Mental Concentration, which is considered to be the supreme mental practice that can finally lead to the complete cessation of suffering called Nibbana.

In Moral Boosting Formulaic Poems for Wedding Ceremony, Buddhadhamma principles that can be applied in daily life activities of a married couple include Five Precepts and Five Ennobling Virtues that teach how to avoid evil deeds, how to cultivate virtues, how to make merits, how to give or donate for charity, how to observe precepts and practice Dhamma, especially on important religious days. Other Buddhadhamma principles found in the same ceremony were the Art of Successful Living together as husband and wife, principles of being a good husband, wife, son-in-law, daughter-in-law. These principles can assist in developing the family and marriage institution in order to create happiness and security in life.

Moral Boosting Formulaic Poems recited for community leaders contain Buddhadhamma principles that can be applied in three dimensions: for self-development, for work development, and for social development. These include the Four Sublime States of Mind, which are important principles for the leaders and rulers to practice in developing the community and supervising the subordinates; Four Impartialities that assist in creating equal opportunities and in avoiding biases while conducting administration, management, supervision, and profit sharing; and Four Bases of Social Solidarity for rendering public service with honesty and good faith in the interest of the people.