Abstract:
The purposes of the research were 1) to study the assimilation of Buddhism and Superstition in ways of life and practice among Thai Buddhist, and 2) to study the relevance between Meritorious Commercial behaviors with Superstitious and Buddhist Commercials in Thai Practical Buddhism. In the field, qualitative research methodology was taken; the participant observation and in-depth interviews were techniques to collect data from Buddhist monks and Laymen in two temples of Nakhon Pathom province; 1) Wat Rai Khing, and 2) Wat Pai Lom. Moreover, Thai Practical Buddhism concept in Thai context related to Buddhism, Superstition, faith and belief, and the ways of practice among Thai Buddhist were studied by documentary research to interpret collected data from the field research. The findings show that the ways of life among Thai Buddhist comprise of basic beliefs - spirit, sacred item, supernatural, Brahminism and Buddhism - adjusting along their history, and becoming Superstition finally. Time passes, social change makes the Superstition assimilate to religious practices and ways of practice among Thai Buddhist. In addition, the impacts of capitalism and consumerism bring greatly changes and lead commercial interest to the ways of life and practice, also beliefs. Merit in form of abstraction is able to be transformed into concrete by Meritorious Commercial concept supported by Buddhism and Superstitious Commercial process. As a matter of fact, Meritorious Commercial is an important condition which makes Buddhism and Superstitious Commercial blend together. In the work, five indicators defining commercialization were brought to analyze how commercial it is; 1) Product, 2) Place, 3) People, 4) Price, and 5) Promotion. However, it is found that the main teachings of Buddhism, may not explain real phenomena clearly. The Thai Practical Buddhism concept, emphasizing on the relevance of the ways of practice, socio-cultural issue, local wisdom and local experience related to Buddhism, thus, may explain it more obliviously.