THE CULTURAL PATTERN OF ISAN SOCIETY: “LIFE AFTER DEATH PREPARING FOR DESCENDANTS”

Abstract

A cultural pattern is a period of stasis in Isan society because people in the globalization era do not understand the Buddhist doctrine. Moreover, Isan society is turning to the age of decadence because descendants neither realize their own responsibilities in repaying the kindness of their parents nor perceive the importance of morality. As a result, the preparation of life after death tradition has occurred. Parents have to buy life insurance so that they can have money for organizing their own funeral ceremony. They perceive death by spending more money on arranging a funeral ceremony than in their daily life and health care. They also understand death as a social business by having life insurance so that their descendants will have enough money for their funeral ceremony. This can be considered as life after death ideology of Isan parents.