Beliefs, Rituals, and Dhamma Principles in the Tradition of 'Kuan Khao Thip' in the Community of Ban Khok Nong Bua, Bua Kham Subdistrict, Pho Chai District, Roi Et Province

Abstract

This research had three main objectives: 1) to study the tradition of Kuan Khao Thip in Theravāda Buddhism; 2) to explore the beliefs and Dhamma principles embedded in the Kuan Khao Thip tradition as practiced in the community of Ban Khok Nong Bua, Bua Kham Subdistrict, Pho Chai District, Roi Et Province; and 3) to analyze the values embodied in this tradition within Ban Khok Nong Bua, Bua Kham Subdistrict, Pho Chai District, Roi Et Province. This qualitative research utilized data collection through textual analysis of scriptures and documents, as well as in-depth interviews with 25 key informants. The findings were analyzed and presented using descriptive methods. The findings reveal the following: The Kuan Khao Thip tradition is closely tied to Buddhist teachings, the offering of wheat by Venerable Aññā Koṇḍañña represents the ideal of pure giving, etc. Each step of the ritual reflects the community's deep faith, reverence, and commitment to purity in carrying out a shared spiritual and cultural duty. The Kuan Khao Thip tradition in the Ban Khok Nong Bua community serves as a significant ritual that embodies the unity and collective cooperation of the community in organizing the event. This ritual is deeply connected to Buddhist principles, incorporating the practice of moral precepts, meditation, and the sincere act of giving (dāna). It fosters peaceful coexistence and cultivates mindfulness and concentration. Moreover, the ceremony functions as a platform for transmitting Buddhist ethics, morality, and beliefs to younger generations. Such merit-making activities strengthen communal bonds and contribute to the moral development and inner peace of community members. The Kuan Khao Thip tradition in Ban Khok Nong Bua shapes values across multiple dimensions—individual, familial, social, religious, cultural, and economic. It emphasizes collaborative merit-making and moral cultivation through practical engagement, fostering faith, social harmony, and a collective spirit within the community. Furthermore, it serves as a venue for the transmission of local knowledge, indigenous wisdom, and ethical values to younger generations, promoting the vibrant and sustainable preservation of cultural customs.