THE NATURAL RESROURCE CONSERVATION BY THE BUDDHIST INTEGRATED APPROACH: A CASE STUDY ON THE TRADITIONAL WHITE ELEPHANT PARADE IN THE LI RIVER BASIN, LAMPHUN PROVINCE

Abstract

               This research ‘The Natural Resource Conservation by the Buddhist Integrated Approach: Case Study on the Traditional White Elephant Parade in the Li River Basin, Lamphun Province’ aims to study the process of conserving the natural resources of the Buddhists in Li Basin’s area, to investigate the restoration process of Traditional White Elephant Parade and to explore the network strengthening for the natural resources conservation in the Li Basin’s area by the Buddhist integrated approach. The research was conducted by the qualitative research method with the field data and presented by the descriptive method. The results revealed that the process of conserving the natural resources of the Buddhists in the Li River Basin– they thought that the environment is what surrounds them naturally. At present, natural resources and environment have been destroyed by human beings and fall into crisis. Regarding the Buddha, he was born, achieved enlightenment, passed away and preached His doctrines in the forest. The Buddha’s disciples were also living in the forest as well, therefore, it is said that they had always been associated with nature and the environment.
                The restoration process of the Traditional White Elephant Parade with its form and essence, it is a ceremony of bamboo woven elephant parade decorated by white color. It is represented as the elephant named Paccaya Nagendara of the Bodhisatta Vessantara. If drought occurs and the rainy season does not take place as it should be, people will perform the Rain-Making Rites and the white elephant procession can link the power of the people in the watershed as well. The local people have a collaborative space, they can create the power to deal with problems and seek ways to preserve their forests. The strengthening of the natural resource conservation network of the Li River basin, by the Buddhist integrated approach; it is a collaborative grouping of natural resources management by performing the prolong life ceremony towards forest and rivers, offering sacrifices to spirits of water. This the white elephant procession is implied for the management of nature and the environment through Buddhist teachings in order to recognize the value of nature and the way to utilize and preserving the natural environment to remain incessantly.