Abstract

The objectives of this thesis were in three folds: 1) to study the role of  Upajjhaya (spiritual teacher) as found in Buddhism,  2) to study Mula-kammatthana (basic meditation subject) and 3) to analytical study the role of  Upajjhaya in teaching Mula-kammatthana. This study is qualitative research collected data from Tipitaka, textbooks, documents and related researches.

The results of the research found that:

There were three concepts of Pabbajjà-Upasampadà (admission to novicehood and Admission to the Sangha) in Buddha’s life time, including 1) Ehi Bhikkhu-Upasampada (ordination by Lord Buddha himself), 2) Tisaranagamanupasampada (ordination by taking the Threefold Refuge) and 3) Natticatuuthakamma-Upasampada (ordination organized by the community of Buddhist monks or Sangha)  which has been continuously  performed until the present time. For solving the problem of ordination, the Sangha and Upajjhaya (spiritual teacher) played an important role in the ordination because they were responsible in selecting the suitable persons for Pabbajjà-Upasampadà (admission to novicehood and Admission to the Sangha) and bring Upasampadapekkha (the men who want to become a monk) to live in the religion as well as take care and educate Saddhivihàrikas (co-residents) according to the principles of the religion, that is to teach Dhamma-Vinaya (the doctrine and the discipline) to Saddhivihàrikas (co-residents) and govern Saddhivihàrikas (co-residents) under subjection of oneself.

Mula-kammatthana (basic meditation subject) or Tacapancaka-kammatthana (the subject for meditation comprising the five constituents ending with the skin) is the basic or all roots of meditations that the Buddha gave the principles to Upajjhaya (spiritual teacher) for teaching newly ordained monks to be the meditation practices or as a basis for the next step. There are two methods of Pabbajjà-Upasampadà (admission to novicehood and Admission to the Sangha) of Thailand in the present time, including 1) the ordination of Maha Nikai Sect called “Ukasa” and 2) the ordination of  Dhammayut Sect called “Esahank”. Both of these methods in teaching Mula-kammatthana (basic meditation subject) were consistent with each other. The the practice of meditations can use in 2 methods i.e. Samatha-khammatthan (tranquillity meditation) and Vipassana-khammatthan (insight meditation)

The pattern of teaching Mula-kammatthana of some Upajjhaya was lack of teaching skills to summarize the details to make the ordinators understand clearly on the meditation and when various procedures of ceremony were ended the new ordinators did not stay with Upajjhaya  during the Buddhist Lent at the same places, but went out to stay at other temples or residences which was the reason why the ordinators did not understand clearly on the meditation and could not do the right exercises and misunderstanding oneself attended Supernatural Power, Meditation Scrutiny  and Unusual Virtue. Moreover, all mass media such as televisions, radios and newspapers have been spread out very fast nowadays causing the faith in Buddhism has also been reduced in Thai society. Hence, the new ordinators should pay more attention on the meditation exercises to develop into higher levels. The Upajjhaya was the senior monk who was appointed to be the president of the ordination, the teacher who was teaching the Dhamma Doctrine, taking care and responsible on his new ordinators to do the righteous behavior, suggesting them to practice more meditation exercises for their clear minds to reach Panya (the wisdom) to be good persons.  So, the Upajjhaya could be defined into 3 characteristics: 1) being the person who gave birth to Buddhist persons as monks and novices through the Pabbajja (ordination of a novice) and 2) being the teacher who taught the Dhamma Doctrine to his students and  3) being the guardian taking care and guiding the right way to do the meditation exercises for the monks and novices in order to admire Buddhism to prosperity in the future.