This thesis aims at analyzing the metaphorical expressions reflecting concepts about life in Dharma books. Another objective is to examine the functions of the conceptual metaphors. The data were collected from 60 Dharma Books that were written by 6 reputable Buddhist monks. The finding shows that there are 15 concepts about life as reflected by the metaphorical expressions in Dharma books, namely 1) [life is a journey], 2) [life is a battle/ war], 3) [life is a resource], 4) [life is business], 5) [life is a container/ closed off area], 6) [life is an impermanent thing], 7) [life is education], 8) [life is a tree], 9) [life is a drama],10) [life is a sport], 11) [life is a building], 12) [life is candlelight/ lamplight], 13) [life is a wild animal], 14) [life is a measurable object], and 15) [life is an object that needs polish]. These conceptual metaphors represent 10 aspects about life from the perspective of Buddhism including; 1) Dharma is essential for life. 2) Obstacles are unavoidable. 3) The cause of Dukkha ‘suffering’ is Avijja ‘ignorance’.4) Life is impermanent. 5) Life is short. Birth comes with death, and death could happen all the time. 6) We should have a plan for our life. 7) Life is valuable; therefore, we should live a careful life. 8) We should always examine our way of living. 9) All incidents in our life are the results of our Karma, ‘what we have done in the past’. 10) We can improve our life. In terms of function, the findings indicate that the conceptual metaphors in Dharma books serve 2 functions, namely ideational function and textual function. The ideational function includes explanation, reconceptualization and persuasion to do or not to do something. The textual functionอุปลักษณ์ (Metaphor) is to organize the text.
