The Process of Parivāsakamma According to The Tradition of Monks In The Northeast Region: a Case Study of Wat Pa Wisuttimakkaram, Ban Phue Subdistrict, Ban Phue District, Udon Thani Province

Abstract

The thesis entitled “The Process of Parivāsakamma According to the Tradition of Monks in the Northeast Region: A Case Study of Wat Pa Wisuttimakkaram, Ban Phue Subdistrict, Ban Phue District, Udon Thani Province” consisted of the following objectives: 1) to study the process of parivāsakamma in Buddhism; 2) to study the process of parivāsakamma according to the tradition of monks in Northeast region on a case study of Wat Pa Wisuttimakkaram, Ban Phue subdistrict, Ban Phue district, Udon Thani province; and 3) to analyze the process of parivāsakamma according to the tradition of monks in Northeast region on a case study of Wat Pa Wisuttimakkaram, Ban Phue subdistrict, Ban Phue district, Udon Thani province. The study applied a qualitative research method by collecting data from documents, research works, and interviews with a sample group comprising 18 persons of those who were related to the research. The results of the research are as follows:

1) Parivāsakamma (probation period) in Buddhism refers to the vuṭṭhānavidhī practice which means the regulations that monks have to follow in the case that they commit saṅghādisesa āpatti (offence entailing a formal meeting of the Order), whether just 1 or all 13 offences, and try to conceal it whether intentionally or unintentionally, mindfully or unmindfully. The vuṭṭhānavidhī practice is a penalty given to the offending monk for a number of days equal to those for which the offence was concealed. The offending monk will confess to the Sangha, represented by a group of at least 4 monks, who will assign the required penalty. There are 4 types for the process of parivāsakamma according to Buddhism: 1) appaṭicanna parivāsa (penalty for unconcealed offences); 2) paṭicanna parivāsa (penalty for concealed offences); 3) samodhāna parivāsa (penalty for combined offences); and 4) suddhanta parivāsa (penalty for different-combined offences).

2) The process of parivāsakamma according to the tradition of monks in Northeast region is an activity of doing good deeds based on the belief in Buddhism of Thai northeastern people. It is the Heet Sibsong Tradition (twelvemonths tradition) or Boon Khao Kam which is held on the 1^st lunar month in order for monk who commits saṅghādisesa āpatti to practice vuṭṭhānavidhī for self-purification. The offending monk must also follow the mānatta, another penalty period of six nights similar to parivāsa but even more stringent in its requirements. After he successfully completes the six nights of mānatta, the monk must appear before a Sangha who will perform abbhāna, the Vinaya act that restores the monk to his former status as a regular monk.

       3) The results from analyzing the process of parivāsakamma according to the tradition of monks in Northeast region on a case study of Wat Pa Wisuttimakkaram, Ban Phue subdistrict, Ban Phue district, Udon Thani province, they are found as follows: (1) On the style of parivāsakamma, it is found to be the Heet Sibsong Tradition (twelvemonths tradition) as there are lay people who have faith and devotion to Buddhism in which they observe the precepts, practice the Dhamma and meditation, and listen to the Dhamma. These lay people train themselves for 4 months to understand the parivāsakamma laid down by the Buddha especially for lay people who were devoted to Buddhism – this is called thitiya parivāsakamma; (2) On the venue of Wat Pa Wisuttimakkaram, it is of sparse forest area with suitable buildings for parivāsakamma. It is serene and not crowded according to sappāya (the 7 things favorable to mental development); (3) On kammavācāriya (announcing teacher), he must follow all the precepts, not commit whether grave or light offence. He must lead the words of an act clearly and without missing any word; (4) On monk who enters the parivāsakamma, he must commit 1 or all 13 offences in which he is assigned a penalty for a number of days equal to those for which the offence was concealed; and (5) On the steps of undergoing the parivāsakamma, there consists 3 steps: 1) the offending monk asks for undergoing parivāsa from the Sangha where he will be assigned a penalty for a number of days equal to those for which the offence was concealed, 2) the Sangha assigns mānatta for six nights, 3) after successfully completes the six nights of mānatta, the monk must appear before a Sangha who will perform abbhāna so that he can restore to his former status as a regular monk. Therefore, the steps of undergoing the parivāsakamma according to the tradition of monks in Northeast region on a case study of Wat Pa Wisuttimakkaram, Ban Phue subdistrict, Ban Phue district, Udon Thani province are consistent with the Vinaya act in Buddhism.