The purposes of this research were : 1) to study tradition concerning the birth in Theravada Buddhist texts, 2) to study the tradition concerning the birth in Thai society, and 3) to compare the tradition concerning the birth in Theravada Buddhist texts and Thai society.

Results of the research

1)            The researcher found that Theravada Buddhism mentioned that the birth is one

of the processes of life. The Dhamma principles supporting the birth were: I dappaccayata, Paticcasamuppada, Kiamma and Samsaracakka. There were two classes of the tradition concerning the birth in Buddha’s life time. : King class and ordinary class concerning the ceremonies and beliefs in Brahma and others. Buddhism mentioned that having the tradition concerning the birth has the benefit as the instrument that makes the human know the value of the birth and makes the human communicate together in the tradition concerning the birth.

2)            The meanings of the birth in Thai society are: 1) Taking the birth from mother’s womb and surviving, and 2) taking the birth from mother’s womb and having the personality. In science, the birth originates from the sperm meeting the egg to fertilize. This makes the development of life. There are two classes of the tradition concerning the birth in Thai society as well as in Buddha’s life time. The tradition concerning the birth in Thai society has a lot of values : The value in taking the birth as the human, The value in making goodness and the value in the gratitude to parents etc.

3) In comparison, the birth in Buddhism and Thai society were found that the perspectives concerning the birth were similar: the birth is the condition and birth is the nature. However, there were the different points concerning the spirit. Buddhism mentioned that the birth is absolute when having the rebirth-consciousness. The birth in Thai society in scientific perspective did not mention the rebirth-consciousness or reincarnated beings. The tradition concerning the birth in Buddhism and Thai society are different in the procedures and the beliefs but are similar in focusing on making the morale the encouragement to the mother and the infant.