Following the Buddha’s Path: The Buddha’s Life Story as the Model for Narrating the Lives of Phra Kechi Achan (Monks with Mystical Power) in Central Thailand
This article aims at studying the narratives of Phra Kechi Achan, (monks with mystical power) in central Thailand. Four monks’ life narratives, two from the Vipassana group and two from the Vidayagom group, are used as case studies. The study reveals that the narratives of all monks follow the structure of the Buddha’s life due to the Buddhist tradition of using the Buddha’s life as a paradigm to compose religious persons’ stories. However, the miraculous power of each monk is highlighted in his narrative. There is both miraculous power as found in the Buddhist canon and as influenced by Thai cultural beliefs and practices.
目次
Abstract 1 Introduction 1 The relationship between the Buddha’s life, his disciples’ lives and the lives of important Buddhist monks 2 Comparison of the narrative structure of the Buddha’s life and that of the lives of Thai Phra Kechi Achan 4 Similarities in the Buddha’s life narrative and those of Phra Kechi Achans’ 14 Influence of Thai cultural beliefs and practices in the Phra Kechi Achan’s life narratives 17 Conclusion 19 References 19
