Abstract:
This thesis was a documentary research and consisted of three purposes. They were to (1) study Vemanikata in Theravada Buddhism, (2) study causes and effects of action (Kamma) of Vemanikapeta, and (3) study Kamma results of Vemanikapeta.
The results of study were as follows:
Vemanikapeta in Theravada Buddhism was related to four ways of unhappy existence. They were Narok (hell), Pittiwisai, Asurakai (demon), and Diracchan (animals). According to Sutra, there were 37 types of Pret (hungry ghosts). Vemanikapeta was only one type of Pret which lived in Wimana (castle). Some Vemanikapeta enjoyed happiness mean in the waxing moon, and encountered hardship in the waning moon. Some types of Vemanikapeta enjoyed seven days of happy meals, and encountered seven days of hardship. At day time, they would encounter the same hardship as the hell animals. At night time, they would live in beautiful castles which were not different from Devata (angels). At the time of happiness, the body of Vemanikapeta would become celestial. Moreover, they would have celestial property as gods living in the castle surrounded by paradise gardens. Buddha taught the cycle of life. Thus, Buddhist believed in Buddhas teaching such as giving alms, Sila, chanting, good khamma, and bad khamma.
The cause of Khamma factors of Vemanikapeta let them be born in the heaven, in the world of human, and in four ways of unhappy existence. Only action with intention was considered Kamma. In contrast, the action without intention was not considered as kamma.
State of hardship and happiness of Vemanikapeta consisted of three physical actions, four verbal actions, and four mental actions. In contrast, Vemanikapeta encountered three ways of physical suffer such as killing animals, stealing, and cheating. Those who killed animals would be born with poor body and bad health. Those who stole the others property would be born with poverty. They would be not successful in doing business. Those who had sexual misconduct would be born with wrong sexual needs. Suffering from four verbal speeches were lying, cheating, sneaky speaking, and raving. Those who lied, and cheated others would be born with unclear speech, out of order teeth, and smelly mouth. Those who spoke sneakily and looked down the others would be born with the behavior of flawing themselves. Those who spoke bad words would be born in the noisy place. Those who raved and gossiped would be born with less credit and less consideration. Suffering from three mental states. Those who wanted the others property would not be able to keep their own property and values. Besides, they would be born in a poor family. Those who wanted to hurt or be vindictive would be born with many diseases. Those who considered the right to be the wrong thing would be born in uncivilized land lacking of education. Those who consisted of these ten bad actions would go to the hell.
Knowledge from achieving both happiness and hardship of Vemanikapeta caused the researcher to see the state of human as the state of cause and effect. Bad action resulted in suffering and good action resulted in happiness which could be applied to teach four groups of Buddhists in vital day.