AN ANALYTICAL STUDY ON THE INFLUENCE OF BUDDHIST ART IN PHRA THAT NONGBUA ON BELIEFS IN MERIT AND DEMERIT OF THE BUDDHISTS IN UBON RATCHATHANI MUNICIPALITY

Abstract

Buddhist art is the art related to Buddhism that have been created from the past up to present and they have been regarded as invaluable in art, culture, history, archaeology and technology including drawings, paintings, architectures in the temple, pagodas and houses, archaeological sites and antiquities. Wat Phra That Nongbua is the collection source of various types of arts such as stucco sculpture, wood carving, wall paintings and other permanent structures transmitted in the temple halls, pagodas and Buddha statues that reflect faiths towards Buddhism by integrating Dhamma principles or teachings in Buddhism in forms of wall paintings. Wat Phra That Nongbua and  Phra That Nongbua (the great pagoda of  Sri Maha Pho) is an exhibition location and collection source of all branches of Thai arts.     Buddhist arts appearing in Phra That Nongbua have influenced the beliefs of the Buddhists in merit and demerit as the followings. The Buddhist arts have built faiths among the people towards the teachings of Buddha leading to the practice according to the moral codes in daily living. The people know how to; make merit an donations; observe the precepts; practice Dhamma in the temple; be unselfish; practice in accordance with the wholesome custom and tradition of the community and society; acknowledge moral shame and moral dread; have mutual kindness and goodwill; sacrificing and being generous to others; believe in the law of Kamma as one sows, so shall one reap (one would receive the effects of what one did).