The purpose of this research is to investigate an influence of Buddhism on Thai literature : a case study of Sepha Khunchang Khunphaen.
The study is devided into two aspects : the study of the general beliefs and the influence of Buddhist principle.
The findings are as follow : Concerning the general beliefs, though most Thai people's beliefs affected mainly from Buddhist Principle, but it is evitable some do not get away from the beliefs in ghost, deity, satan, or in other word, which is the ancient thai's beliefs by the past time to nowaday. The beliefs of most Thai people from the combination of Buddhist principle and magic's beliefs. Of course, It influences day to day activities continuously from generation to the general rites. Because the illustration of the rites have been influencing to Thai people from birth to death. It was the desire of every Thai, from the King down to the common people, Such as King coronation, Royal ploughing, and wedding ceremony, etc.
Secondly, regards the principle of Buddhism, guite a lot of Lord Buddha's teaching appear in Sepha Khunchang Khunphaen. The teaching most practically accepted and adopted in daily life concerning Karma and Tilakkhana, or the three characteristics. This makes most Thai people believe in the rebirth of all human being and also of all the living creatures. The law of Karma will bring about the lives that of all the living things to Samsaravatta. However, it is believed that all the creatures' fate and ways of life, past, present and future and even birth or rebirth, will be led by Anicca or Impermanent or transience, Dukkha or suffering and Anatta or non-self. According to the three characteristics of Tilakkhana will continuously be the change of the all life. Although the ultimate principle of Buddhism, is called Nibbana, that is meant to be the ultimate destination of all Buddhists, since it will help people free from "self" and "desire". It is even viewed to be impossible for most common people to reach. So practically, Nibbana in Sepha Khunchang Khunphaen has been perceived only as an "ideal" what teaching the people follow will be the ones they believe will lead them to peaceful happiness in next lives and or didn't want present.
As a consequence from this study, if we look for Thai literature which has been functioned as a communication tool conveying the concrete thoughts and ideal from one generation or period of time to another. As the establishing of literature has been undertaken continuously, the history will have been simultaneously recorded, that reflects its cultures, traditions, rituals or the old way of Thai-living up-to it is today heredity. This will in consequence be a key direction of the future.
