Study The Leader to Apply Buddha-Dharma Principle in Country Administration in Sukhothai Era and Ayutthaya Era

Abstract

It is apparent that the relation between the Buddha-Dharma principle and the leaders of the country is in the form that the leaders have been using such principle to administrate and rule the country beginning from the past. In Thailand, there is evidence indicating that it had begun in the Sukhothai era, continuing from King Ram Khamhaeng era, King Maha Thammaracha I (Li Thai) era, Ayutthaya Era, King Naresuan era, and Songthamera. The key objectives of Buddha-Dharma Principle application are to set out the social regulation and to use the principle as a tool for guiding morality, with the assumption that when the leaders and the citizens are high-minded, have morality and ethics, and hold on to the Buddha-Dharma principle, the country will be peaceful and stable. Apart from that, it is a way to securely retain the administrative (ruling) power of the leaders.