A Comparative Study of Sikkhāpada Involving with Lokavajja of Theravada Sangha in Thailand

Abstract

This article was a part of thesis entitled ‘A Comparative Study of Sikkhāpada of Lokavajja of Theravāda’s Sangha in Thailand’ aiming at studying general worldly fault or Lokavajja in Thai society, Sikkhāpada in Buddhism, and comparing Sikkhāpada involving Lokavajja of Theravāda Sangha in Thailand.  It was a qualitative research. Its findings were that the ordination is a religious function in Buddhist tradition. Its purpose is to be religion heir, religion inheritor and following Dhamma and disciplines. It was true that some Bhikkhus were successful in practice for Nibbana attainment, still some study and practice for such goal but mistakenly infringe the disciplinary rules due to their ordinary being. This discipline violation is of disciplinary fault or Paṇṇattivajja and worldly fault or Lokavajja. The worldly fault means the losses, what ordinary people condemn, not accept, inappropriate, against the law, Bhikkhu will be punished according to the country law or even not breaking the law but causing the loss of faith to Buddhist devotees. The cause of Sikkhāpada violation is the rapid change of society, the change of behavior towards 4 basic needs uses which might lead to break down some disciplinary rules. The solutions of such violation need the corporation of all sections in society, i.e., Shangha council which functions to provide right education and method to supervise and strictly control Bhikkhus, the government conducting the legislation to defend, preserve and support Buddhism and people who must be educated the Buddhism rightly.