The aim of this thesis is to study the concepts of philosophy in Traiphumphraruang, a well-recognized Thai literature as the first Buddhist Catechism. It is hypothesized that this literature, besides having moral value, contains some philosophical concepts and basic political concepts of Thailand. It was found that in Metaphysics, the Traiphumphraruang has proposed two answers about reality. One is the matter (that is four primary elements and twenty-four derivatives), and the other is the abstract (which consists of mind, mental factors, and Nirvana). It also discusses about the problems of the Universe, the origin of lives, and the beliefs in the law of Karma in details to convince the readers in performing good deeds for a good return as a reward (according to the law of Karma). In Epistemology, it proposes a way to discover both conventional and ultimate truths; for in the real life some individuals need only mundane happiness but some want to reach the level of liberation of souls, the supramundane level of happiness or Nirvana. Traiphumphraruang is written with the aims to teach morality in the way of Buddhism. Fearful description of states of misery and ecstatically description of the happy states are exemplified. The actions to cause men to be reborn in such states according to the law of Karma are provided. It proposes 2 kinds of ideal distinction to lead human lives. 1. In wordly ways, it aims to teach man to perform good deeds for the following purposes, 1.1 to get a good return in his present world. 1.2 to be reborn in a better world, for example, in the heaven, in Utaraguru land or the land of pleasure, if being born as a human-being, or in the Age of Phra-Sriariyametrai etc. 2. In moral sense, its ultimate goal is to reach Nirvana with an everlasting happiness. For the value of moral it is stated that the will is the judge of human action because it instigates the action: good will, good action. This belief is a base to cause political stability. If the people are afraid of committing sins, then the society will be in harmony. So it may be concluded that the ideas of state administration is emphasized in the view of “reforming individuals to society” with a belief that : good individuals forms, good society. So most of [its teaching aims] at the morality of individuals by means of [instilling] love and virtues, in their lives, their speech, and their mind. This will eventually result in the smooth administration of the states. Consequently, it is clear that the Traiphumphraruang proposes many philosophical principles in Metaphysics and Epistemology, and emphasizes on the moral values which reflects some basic ideas in political administration in Sukothai Period. These values also have influenced on the Thai peoples’ beliefs up to the present time.
