An Analysis of the Religious beliefs and rituals depicted in the Tradition of Philanthropy devoted in the Isan Thai Ethnic Group

Abstract

This article is intended to analysis of the religious beliefs and rituals depicted in the Tradition of Philanthropy devoted in the Isan Thai Ethnic Group. The Isaan Thai ethnic group has a motto of believing that people at the end of their lives rely on the fruits of their own merits. If there is no fruit of merit, it relies on the living to make merit dedicated to it. Therefore, it is a tradition whose main purpose is (1) to express gratitude, (2) to dedicate the merits to the dead, (3) to mourn the patrons or their deceased relatives, (4) to be a charity to have a sacrificial mind, (5) to create love, harmony in the family among the relatives and communities, (6) to promote glory, and (7) to be a social norm.