Buddhist Philosophy: A Study of Buddha Images for Perpetuating Buddhism in Isan Society

Problem statement: Buddha image is a symbol which built for representing the Buddha. At present, the majority of people always misinterpret and misevaluate the real value of Buddha image. As a matter of fact, Buddha image enhances social solidarity and social networks of Northeast-Thai people. Appreciating value of Buddha image is necessary for next generation so a study of Buddhist Philosophy towards Buddha images and current problems concerning interpretation and evaluation is a serious study. This research aimed at investigating a body of knowledge of Buddhist Philosophy towards Buddha image and current problems concerning interpretation and evaluation of Buddha image according to Buddhist Philosophy. Approach: Research areas were Ubon Ratchathani Province, Yasothon Province and Maha Sarakham Province. A sample of 116 people consisted of a group of key informants, a group of casual informants and a group of general informants. Research instruments were an observation, a survey, an interview and a focus group interview. Research data were examined by means of a triangulation technique and research results were presented by means of a descriptive analysis. Results: Buddha images reflect Buddhist philosophy towards 7 postures of the Buddha, they are a Buddha image in a posture of overcoming temptations (Pang Mara Wichai), in a posture of sitting under the protection of the hood of the mythical serpent (Pang Nak Prok), in a posture of sitting in meditation (Pang Samati), in a posture of giving a sermon (Pang Prathan Porn), in a posture of sitting with an aureole around the body (Pang Ruean Kaew) and in a posture of displaying the Twin Miracles (Pang Yamok Patihan). A main current problem is people are more interested in the miracle power of Buddha image than the practice according to Buddhist Philosophy which conceals in it. Conclusion/Recommendation: Research result reveals the value of Buddhist Philosophy which conceals in Buddha image and point to the usefulness of Buddhist Philosophy for daily life and perpetuation of Buddhism in Isan society (Northeast society of Thailand).


INTRODUCTION
Buddha image is a type of Thai-sculpture. It is a symbolic figure which represents the Buddha, the exalted founder of Buddhism. In order to crated a symbolic figure of the Buddha for people's worship Buddha image is crated into several process; for example carving out of a stone, carving out of a log, molding of metal, molding of clay, painting on cloth or wall (Saising, 2004). Creating Buddha image in the northeast of Thailand relates to the history of creating Buddha image in Laos; in the past, northeast of Thailand was a part of the Lan Chang Kingdom of Laos and afterwards it was under the authority of the Thai Kingdom so some details of Buddha image had been influenced by Thonburi and Rattanakosin art. In the latter 19th century, western countries colonized Asian countries as colonies so some right parts of the Maekhong River of Laos become the parts under the authority of the Thai State, that resulted from the territorial exchange between the Thai State and the French State. Thus the Lan Chang Buddha images have spread in Northeast Thailand since then (Lohpetcharat, 2003 (Changphanitkun, 2002). During the lifetime of the Buddha, he did not require creating some things for representing himself and focused on teaching his adherents to conduct themselves in the right way (Dharma). Each person can understand Dharma in different ways so creating Buddha image for representing the Buddha is a way to encourage Buddhist adherents to understand Dharma easily because each posture of Buddha images represents Buddhist Philosophy or Buddhist doctrine and it is a reminder which reminds Buddhist adherents to do good things. The value of Buddha image depends on the appreciation in Buddhist doctrine or Buddhist philosophy of the creator and Buddhist adherents because it is not a general thing but it is an exalted thing.

Purposes and objectives:
This research aimed at investigating a body of knowledge of Buddhist Philosophy towards Buddha image and current problems concerning interpretation and evaluation of Buddha image according to Buddhist Philosophy.

Population and sample:
A population was the people who lived in Ubon Ratchathani Province, Yasothon Province and Maha Sarakham Province. A sample of 116 people consisted of a group of key informants, a group of casual informants and a group of general informants.

Instruments:
Research instruments were an observation, a survey, an interview and a focus group interview.
Data analysis: Research data were examined by means of a triangulation technique and research results were presented by means of a descriptive analysis.

RESULTS
The findings are as follows:  Suksri et al. (2010), he studied about "The Buddha Images and Conservation and Adherence to Cultural Value in Northeast". It revealed that there were 5 models of the Buddha image art found in Isan: Sandstone Buddha images, bakedclay votive tablets, cast motar Buddha images, bronze Buddha images and wooden Buddha images. They were in the Periods of Dvaravati, Lop Buri and Lan Chang. The Buddha images were popularly built in many different styles such as concentration style, doublemiracle style, nagover-his-head style, blessing style, world-opening style, relatives-stop style, dharma consideration style and others.
A main current problem is people are more interested in the miracle power of Buddha image than the practice according to Buddhist philosophy which conceal in it. This wrong interpretation and evaluation results from both internal and external factors, internal factors are social values and social concept which vary according to time and social context, external factors are an economic factor, a social factor, a political factor and others. This problem affects significantly the perpetuation of Buddhism in Isan society and it seriously needs the correct solution.

CONCLUSION
The result of this research reveals the great value of Buddhist philosophy which conceals in Buddha images and a main current problem concerning interpretion and evaluation of Buddha image which affects significantly the perpetuation of Buddhism in Isan society.