The objectives of this research are: 1) to study the history and development of the ancient Lanna Mahāvipāka scripture, 2) to study the essence of the Ancient Lanna Mahāvipāka scripture, and 3) to study and analyze the moral teaching and value of the Ancient Lanna Mahāvipāka scripture. This study is a qualitative research by means of in-depth interview The form of the research is the qualitative research by means of documentary research and interview.  The research area is Chiang Mai Province.  The sample groups are qualified monks, local philosophers, scripture experts, and temple wardens.  They were chosen by their well known works.  The data was collected by means of interviewing, analyzing, synthesizing, and descriptive narration.

The Result of the Research Revealed the Followings:

1. The content of the Ancient Lanna Mahāvipāka scripture discussed the consequences of the karma of a millionaire which resulted in his childlessness, as appeared in the Thutiyaaputtakasutra, which has the same style of writing as the Julakammavipakkasutra.  The objective of the stories is to teach the Cause and Effect of karma (an Act and its Consequences).  The oldest edition found, as far as the survey was concerned, was written in B.E. 2395.  The newest edition was written in B.E. 2520.  The scriptures of large quantity were found between B.E. 2400 and B.E. 2500.

2. The essence of the Mahāvipāka  scripture is divided into 3 parts, which are 1) the Nithan Wajana  preliminary statements of the scripture which worship Lord Buddha, 2) the essence of the scripture, in the middle part of the scripture, contains the stories that King Pasenthikoson asked Lord Buddha about a life of a millionaire in Sawatthi City, who was so rich yet living his life so poor, and about the collective karma that made a human being reborn as animal after death, and 3) the Nikhama Wajana, in the last part of the scripture, which significantly explained that the essence of the Mahāvipāka  Scripture came from the Tripitaka.

3. The Mahāvipāka a scripture has principally reflected the moral teaching on Karma and its Consequences (Cause and Effect). It also reflects the social values of the Lanna people who believe that chanting of the Mahāvipāka scripture can save a near death person or his spirit from evil consequences, which has thus established a tradition about death ceremony for the Lanna people. Moreover, it also reflects the values of dialect, that is, it helps restoring the use of the Lanna Thai dialect, and developing the literature essence of the Mahāvipāka scripture in the way that corresponds with today’s social context.

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