An Analysis of the Philosophy of Animism in Buddhism among the Tai Lue People

Abstract

This study aims to: 1) examine spirit veneration within the Buddhism of the Tai Lue people; 2) investigate the ritual practices associated with spirit veneration among the Tai Lue; and 3) analyze the philosophical underpinnings of spirit veneration in Tai Lue Buddhism This qualitative study collected data from documentary sources and from 33 key informants. The primary research instrument was a semi-structured interview guide, and data were analyzed using content analysis.

          The research results revealed that:

          1) Spirit veneration in Tai Lue Buddhism: The Tai Lue maintain strong cultural ties with the Lanna (Thai-Yuan) community and with Buddhism. Their beliefs combine palm-leaf manuscript traditions with the worship of spirits, which are often transformed conceptually into guardian deities while retaining their sacred status. Ritual practice therefore reflects a harmonious synthesis of indigenous beliefs and Buddhist teachings.

          2) Ritual practice : The Tai Lue regard spirits as ancestral and communal guardians whose existence is integrated with Buddhist notions of karma and its consequences. Proper ritual practice is believed to bring peace and prosperity. Rituals are transmitted intergenerationally and have been adapted including the use of modern technologies for preservation and dissemination in contemporary society.

          3) Philosophy of spirit veneration in Tai Lue Buddhism: The Tai Lue worldview blends spirit veneration with Buddhism in a balanced way, seeing life and the world as an interconnected system of humans, spirits, and nature. Knowledge is sought through meditative practice, reason, and ancestral wisdom. Belief practices guide moral conduct and the cultivation of a peaceful society, grounded in the Threefold Training (slla, samadhi, pañña) and the Middle Way to foster mental tranquility and harmonious coexistence. Compassion (metta), sympathetic joy (mudita), empathetic concern (karuna), and equanimity (upekkha) temper the application of wisdom so that it serves mutual support rather than ego or domination.