Comparing the Duty of Discipline (Vinaya Pitaka) with Decency in Thai Society

Abstract

This research article aims to (1) study the meaning, quality, and factors of the duty on discipline (Vinaya Pitaka), (2) study the methods of the duty on discipline (Vinaya Pitaka), and (3) compare the duty on discipline (Vinaya Pitaka) with decency in Thai society. There is qualitative research through documentary study from Tipitaka and related documents, and then analyzed it through content analysis. The result found that the duty of discipline is concerned with function in the daily life of the Buddhist monk as a tradition set up by the Buddha on Vatta Khanthaka. So, it covers 2 meanings, those are (1) the function, daily religious routine or tradition, and (2) methods of that tradition. It has two talent qualities: (1) the order and (2) the mustiness. There are 14 daily religious routines in the duty of discipline, each daily religious routine belonging to two main importance: the stories and regulations. The duty of discipline has two methods in practice: (1) ceremony by word and (2) instruction for practice. Compared with the Thai decency, the duty of discipline differs in meaning, quality, factor, and method, but some parts are the same. In conclusion, Thai decency was influenced by the duty of discipline because of the similarity of some matters, the monk’s code of discipline, and the qualification of the reviser. The body of knowledge indicates that the consistency of the duty with decency, according to the Buddhist perspectives, there are two types of duty: (1) duty involved formal ceremonies, and (2) duty involved informal ceremonies. When compared with the decency, they are consistent mostly in the examination of the four postures, and that duty is a rule for monks. Therefore, the duty is more delicate than decency, which is the manners of householders.