A Revision and Analytical Study of Seub Chata Scripture of Phrakhru Prachotisiriwat's Edition

Abstract

The study entitled “A Revision and Analytical Study of Seub Chata Scripture of Phra Prachotisiriwat's Edition” consisted of 3 objectives as follows: 1) to study the background and belief of Seub Chata or prolongation ritual in Lanna society; 2) to examine and revise Sarakarivicha Sutta Scripture and Thipmon Luang Seub Chata Scripture of Phrakhru Prachotisiriwat's Edition; and 3) to analyze the Dhammas appeared in both Sarakarivicha Sutta Scripture and Thipmon Luang Seub Chata Scripture. The study applied a documentary research by studying the definitions, background, beliefs about Seub Chata ritual, as well as analyzing and revising Sarakarivicha Sutta Scripture and Thipmon Luang Seub Chata Scripture. The results of the study are found as follows:

1) Seub Chata or prolongation ritual has influenced the way of life of people in Lanna society for a long time. It is an auspicious ritual to strengthen the morale of the general public on various occasions such as any auspicious ceremony or even when for prolonging the life of a patient based on Buddhist belief in Ayuvadhanakumaravathu story. The story portrays a baby whose life was predicted that he would not live more than 7 years but due to the affection of his parent so they brought him to see the Buddha, the Buddha acknowledged the situation through his insight, he then told other monks to prepare the venue where he would preside the ceremony of chanting Paritta sutta which took place for 7 days in order to eliminate the danger that would occur with the baby. Later on, the baby could live for 120 years. The Seub Chata ritual, therefore, is adapted to perform in a contemporary society such as Seub Chata Mueang, Seub Chata Mae Nam, and Seub Chata Pa Mai, as appeared in the present society.

2) A revision of Sarakarivicha Sutta Scripture and Thipmon Luang Seub Chata Scripture of Phrakhru Prachotisiriwat's Edition in all 5 scriptures, it is found that the writing is divided into 2 styles: The 1^st style is the writing in Pali language and is written according to the accent of the local language which results in the distortion of pronunciation and the 2^nd style is the composing of sentences and words that are grammatically wrong in Pali which results in the uninterpretation of sentences or contents, therefore, the researcher has left it the same. Any sentence that has minor mistakes and is able to be interpreted, the researcher has revised for complete and correct grammar in Pali.

3) The Dhammas appeared in Sarakarivicha Sutta Scripture and Thipmon Luang Seub Chata Scripture are found as follows: Gārava-dhamma refers to the reverence for the Master, the Buddha, the Dhamma, the Order, the Training, the earnestness, and the hospitality; Bojjhaṅga refers to enlightenment factors which are sati (mindfulness), dhammavicaya (truth investigation), viriya (effort), pīti (zest), passaddhi (tranquility), samādhi (concentration), and upekkhā (equanimity); Pāramī (the 10 perfections performed by the Bodhisattva) which are dāna (giving), sīla (morality), nekkhamma (renunciation), paññā (wisdom), viriya (effort),
khanti (tolerance), sacca (truthfulness), adhiṭṭhāna (self-determination), mettā (loving-kindness), and upekkhā (equanimity), by which Pāramī is divided into 3 steps, namely, Pāramī (ordinary perfections), Upapāramī (superior perfections), and Paramatthapāramī (supreme perfections); and lastly, Mettā-bhavanā (the cultivation of loving-kindness) refers to the spread of loving-kindness specifically, unspecifically, and to all 10 directions.