Guidelines for Developing Factors Affecting the Belief in the Law of Karma of Buddhists in Nakhon Sawan Province

Abstract

The objectives of this research article were 1) to study the teachings on the law of karma in Buddhism; 2) to study the belief and behavior on the law of karma of Buddhists in Nakhon Sawan Province; and 3) to present guidelines for developing factors affecting the belief on the law of karma of Buddhists in Nakhon Sawan Province. This was a quantitative research. It consisted of a study of related research documents and collecting field data using in-depth interviews with 22 key informants, namely Buddhist monks, laymen, laywomen, and focus group discussions with 8 key informants, including Buddhist scholars, Buddhist propagator monks, and laywomen. The research instruments included in-depth interviews and descriptive content analysis. The research results found that 1) the teachings on karma in Buddhist scriptures explained the meaning and characteristics of karma, the cause of karma, the results of karma according to causes and conditions, and the practice of karma with the highest goal of extinguishing karma to enter Nirvana; 2) the belief and behavior of Buddhists in Nakhon Sawan Province regarding the law of karma made them generous. Therefore, they liked to make merit. Making merit came from the belief that it will bring them to a good destination; and 3) the guidelines for developing factors that affected the belief in the law of karma of Buddhists in Nakhon Sawan Province to instill belief in the law of karma from the family, school, and temple since childhood so that they will have behavior that was ashamed and afraid of sin, preventing them from creating sinful karma, which was a problem that caused suffering to themselves and society in the future.