ABSTRACT

            This thesis is of the objectives to study Abhayadāna (Asylum Giving) in Buddhism, to study the teaching on Abhayadāna in the Buddha’s conduct as well as to apply that of Abhayadāna to the way of life Thai society. The study is a qualitative research focussing on the documents. The results of the study are as follows :

            Abhayadāna is of three meanings, namely : (1) The Abhayadāna is the execution and the giving of the safety without ill will. (2) The observation of the precepts. (3) The development of loving kindness and forgiveness. The characteristics of Abhayadāna are of 3 kinds, namely : the bodily, verbally and mentally asylum giving. Manokamma or volition will be the state of bodily, verbally and mentally working in order with the volition to observe the five precepts. The cause of giving the Abhayadāna comes from the hopes on various sides, namely : the wish to be reborn in the heaven, to get what one wishes, namely the property, the luck, the title, the name, the happiness, the hope, the happiness both in this birth and in the future one. The benefits from giving Abhayadāna are : the performing of the greatly good action, the collecting of good action and perfection including the state of happiness, of being famous, of being dear to others and stopping the result of Kamma in the next birth.

            Buddhakicca, the work done by the Buddha throughout His life. It causes the Buddha’s conduct or the Buddhist good service to arise.

            The Buddha’s benefit  making is of  three kinds, namely :- Lokattha-Cariyā, the working for benefit to the world, Ñātattha-Cariyā, the working for the benefit to the relatives, Buddhattha-cariyā, the working for the benefit as the Buddha. The Buddha went to teach the living beings who could know what He daily taught. It is also the custom to perform Lokatthacariyā by the Buddha. The Abhayadāna in the Buddhacariyā is one of the Lokatthacariyā showing that the Buddha had the Middle and central mind to all the living beings, such as to Ven. Devadatta, Mr.Khamangdhanū, the Dhanapāla Elephant, the thief called Angulimāla, Mrs. Ciñcamānavikā and Ven. Rāhula, without separating the people whether they loved Him or were enemies to Him.

            The exemplary group of the people who were connected with  Abhayadāna in the Buddha’s conduct are of three numbers, namely : -

            (1) The Buddha allowed the forgiving to living beings.

            (2) The Buddha behaved Himself as a part of Sīlavisuddhi.

            (3) The Buddha extended the loving-kindness to all beings and had the forbearance.

            Loving kindness means the love, the good wish and the friendship. Khanti means the forbearance which is the Doctrinal organ supporting the Abhayadāna in the characteristic of Mettā and Khanti in Abhayadāna both bodily and verbally with the clever mind or the ten KusalaKammapatha. Kodha means the anger. Byāpāda means the ill-will which is the Doctrinal organ in opposition to Abhayadāna in the characteristic of Kodha in bodily, verbal and mental Abhayadāna with the bad mind or the ten Akusalakammapatha, the other two opposites of Abhayadāna are Byāpāda, the hatred, and Upanāha, the grudge.