Tap chi Khoa hpc so 12 (4-2015) LTONG D A I H O C D N G T H A P VAI TRO CUA PHAT GIAO NAM TONG v d l D d i S O N G C U A NGUCfl K H M E R N A M B O » ThS Hoang Thi QuySnC* Tom tat Bdi viit tgp trung md td niem tin, thuc hdnh ton gido (Phdt gido Nam tong), td ehi vai tro cda at gido Nam tong ddi sdng cda ngudi Khmer Nam Bg Vdi ngudi Khmer, triit ly dgo Phgt trd thdrdi tiidng chd dgo y thdc hi, no tdc dgng sdu sde den tinh each, ldi sdng cua ngUdi nai day Cdc kien mang y nghia lieh sd eudc ddi cda mot ngUdi Khmer td sinh ra, ldn len, di tu, cudi vg, ldy ong vd mdt di, tdt cd deu duac td chde theo nhdng tap tuc rieng, it nhiiu mang mdu sac Phgt gido Ngdi da cd vi tri, vai tro dgc bi$t ddi vdi cdng ddng ndy Td khda: Niim tin ton gido, thuc hdnh ton gido, vai tro Phgt gido Nam tong, gido ly Phgt gido, tinh ch, ldi sdng cda ngudi Khmer D$t v§'n d l Ngtfdi Khmer d Viet Nam hidn cd trdn 260.000 ngtfdi, song tdp trung ddng nhat d cac Lh: Sdc Trdng, Trd Vmh, Ben Tre, Vliih Long, dn Giang va An Giang [4, tr 8] Ddi song tin ;tfdng, tdn gido ciia ngtfdi Khmer rdt da dang phong phu, mang dam bdn sac vdn hod ddn tdc ning ta cd th^ k^ den mdt so hinh thtfc tin ;tfdng ddn gian ciia ngtfdi Khmer nhtf: tin ;tf9ng Tdtem, tin ngtfdng Ardk, tin ngtfdng Neak L, tin ngtfdng cua ctf dan ndng nghidp \ i tdn io, ngtfdi Khmer theo dao Bdlamon, Cong gido, Tin ldnh nhtfng Phdt gido Nam tdng vdn la tl gido cd dnh htfdng rong rai vd sdu sdc nhd^t n cuoc song cua cdng d6ng "O day Phdt So cd vai trd rd't ldn, gan nhtf chi phd'i mgi sinh lat cua ngtfdi ttf thdnh thi de'n ndng thdn f nhieu th^ ky qua Phat gido Nam tong da dtfdc m nhtf Id quoc gido Hinh ddng dtfc Phdt luon chd dtfa tinh thSn vtfng chdc nhat, t6n tai tfong tfc cua ngtfdi Khmer Nam bo ttf Idu ddi, vi vdy c phong tuc, tdp qudn, le hdi dan gian cho dd'n c sinh hoat tinh thin ddi sd^ng xd hdi deu it nhieu mang mdu sac Phdt giao" [3, tr 224] li viet tdp trung md td vai tro cua Phdt gido Nam lg ddi song ngtfdi Khmer qua viec phdn h dnh htfdng cua gido ly, cua thtfc hdnh vd niem tdn gido de'n vdn hda, lo'i sd'ng ciia ngtfdi imer Nam bp Anh huTdng cua giao ly PhSt giao dd'n lh each, 16'i song cua ngtfdi Khmer Trong suot chilu ddi phdt tri^n ciia minh, vdo thdi ky ket tap kmh diln lln n (khodng 100 ndm sau dtfc Phdt nhdp Niet Bdn) Phdt gido cd stf phdn chia phdi bg thdnh: Dai Chiing Bd (Mahdsamghika) bao gom nhffng Ty Kheo tre mud^n thay doi 10 dilu gidi ludt vd so cdn lai bao gom nhiJng nhd stf chu trtfdng giff nguyen gidi ludt nguyen thuy hinh thdnh Thtfdng Tga Bg (Theravada) Phai Dai Chung Bg phdt trien dao cua nunh ldn phia Bdc sang Trung Quoc, Nhdt Bdn, Trieu Tien dtfdc ggi Id Phat gido Bac tong hay Phat gido Bac truyen Phdi Thtfdng Tga Bo truyen dao ve htfdng nam, phdt trien xuong Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thdi Lan, Campuchia, Ldo nen dtfdc ggi la Phdt giao Nam tdng, Phat gido nguyen thuy hay Phdt giao Tieu ThCfa Phdt gido Nam tdng theo cac nha truyen giao ttf An D6 vdo vung Dong bang sdng Culi Long ttf rat sdm, cd tdi lieu ghi vdo the ky thtf III, cd tdi Udu ghi thd^ ky thtf rV Khi vdo Viet Nam, Phdt Gido Nam tdng dtfdc ddng dao ngtfdi ddn ndi ddy ddn nhdn, ddc bidt Id ngtfdi Klimer D i n ddu thd* ky XX, dai bO phdn cdc phum, sdc ciia ngtfdi Khmer d i u cd chua thd Phdt Phdt gido Nam tdng trd tdn gido chinh cua cgng d6ng ndy Do vdy, Phdt gido Nam tdng d ngtfdi Khmer cdn dtfdc ggi la Phdt gido Nam tdng Khmer "Giao ly ciia Phdt gido Nam tdng Khmer dtfa trdn nen tdng Tam Tang Kinh bang tii'ng Pali (Pah Tipitaka) He thong Tam Tang Kinh nguydn thuy bang tieng Pali g i m Kinh tang, Ludt tang vd Ludn tang" [6, d: 34] Hidn nay, hd phdi Phdt gido Oioa xa hpi hoc, HQC vi&n Chinh tri khu vtfc IV 65 TRUONG DAI HOC DONG THAP Nam tdng Khmer da dtfdc cdc cd quan chtfc ndng cho phdp nhdp 350 bg Dai Tang Kinh bang chff Khmer cho cdc chua Phdt gido Nam tdng Khmer d Nam Bg Dilu tao dieu kidn thudn ldi cho ngtfdi ddn Khmer ti^p can vdi giao ly cua Phdt gido Ddc dilm chii yeu gido ly Phat gido Id htfdng ngtfdi den cdi thien "Dao Phdt theo dao dtfc luan, ldy nhdn qua ldm phep tac chu yl^u xuydn sud^t kinh sdch de gido due ngtfdi, ldy nhdn nghia ldm nen tdng dao dtfc, lay tinh thtfdng xda bd hdn thu, lay cugc song gidn di chdn chinh, dodn ket, binh dang, bdc di lam le sd^ng, ldy tinh thin dan chu, cdng bang, khdng phdn bidt ding cCp ldm chuin mtfc sinh boat cudc sd'ng, iCy dtfdng trung dung lam cd sd hdnh dOng" [4, XT 109-110] He thdng gido ly cua Phat gido thl hidn quan diem nhdn vdn sdu sac Hdn ntfa, cdc chain mtfc dao dtfc cua Phdt giao rd't cu thl, gdn gui ndn nd dd di vdo ddi sd^ng cua ngtfdi ddn Vi du, Phdt gido dtfa quy dinh v l "ngu gidi (khdng sdt sinh, khdng trgm cap, khdng ta ddm, khdng ndi dd^i, khdng ud^ng rtfdu); thdp thidn (ttong dd c6 ba dieu thugc ve thdn la khdng sdt sinh, khdng trgm cdp, khdng td ddm; ba dieu thu0c ve ^ thtfc Id khdng tham lam, khdng thtf hdn, khdng si md; ho'n dieu thudc v l kh£u Id khong ndi dd'i, khdng ndi thdu ddt, khong ndi hai dieu, khdng dc khau.)" [8, tf 7] Dtfdc tilp xdc vd gido due theo tinh than ciia Phdt gido tiong suit cugc ddi, ndn diet ly dao Phdt ttd thdnh ttf ttfdng chu dao ttong ^ thtfc he ciia mli ngtfdi Khmer, nd tdc dgng sdu sac din tinh cdch, loi s^ng cua ngtfdi ndi day Nhdn dao, thtfdng ngtfdi, dd ding cdm vdi ngtfdi nghdo kho Id ndt tinh cdch cua da sd^ ngtfdi Khmer, dieu ndy it nhilu bi dnh htfdng bdi quan nidm nhdn qua, ta Mdng vi tiia cua dao Phdt Ngtfdi ddn ndi ddy tin rdng, di chiia ldm phtfdc cung nhtf lam rugng, ldm cdng nhieu dtfdc phtfdc cdng nhieu va ngtfdc lai Hg tin rdng, b ^ tiii Id d l lam phtfdc, ttong nhffng hinh thtfc ldm phtfdc tiii cung nhtfdng thtfc dn cho stf sai vd cung tien cua de xdy ditiig vd hi bo chiia hay ldm cdc cdng vide phuc ldi cua Phdt gido Id phtfdc ldn nhdt: "tdt cd vdng bac cua cdi deu cd tile bi mat, chi cd ldm phtfdc bing each ddng Cling vdo chua tiii cdi phtfdc ay khdng ctfdp dtfdc" [3, tt 224] Song theo giao ly nhd 66 Tgp Chl Khoa hgc sg 12 (4-20 Phdt, ngtfdi Khmer diing tien kil'm dtfdc chi ti rd't it cho gia fflnh md gidnh phan ldn d l ciing i vide xdy diJftig chua Sau Io vide ctfdi choo ngtfdi Khmer tiitfdng dem mdt phan tdi sdn cd vdo chua de ldm phtfdc tich dtfc cho kilp sau Tinh th^n ciu an, chdp nhdn cugc song hi tai cua Phdt gido anh htfdng khdng nho den song ciia ngtfdi ddn Ngtfdi Khmer coi trpng ( sd^ng tinh thin hdn vdt chd't "Tam ly xd h6ic ye'u Id htfdng ve "an ban, lac dao", ydn phSni ngheo nan lac hdu, it chu y den canh ttanh M^ ttien" [3, tt 237] Dilu ndy gdy dnh htfdng kho nho dl^n cdng tde xod ddi gidm nghdo cho c$ dong ngtfdi Khmer "Theo dilu tta flnh hinh ( s6ng cua ngtfdi Khmer d tinh Sdc Trdng vdonJ 1993, CO tdi 67,48% s l ' h d ngtfdi Khmer lai ngheo O hai huyen ngheo nhd't tinh Id Long PI hd nghdo chilm tdi 72,02% vd My Td, hO nghi ehiem 72,65% Nhtf vdy, hdn 2/3 s^ hg ngu Klmier rdi vdo canh ddi nghdo" [7] Cdc nghil ctfu gin ddy nhdt cung chi rdng t^ Id hO gia (fii ngtfdi Khmer rdi vdo tinh trang ddi nghdo lui tli d mtfc cao So' lieu tiiong kd tinh Sdc Tra nam 2011 cho thd'y ty 1$ hg nghdo ngtfdi Khm Id 36,5% chid'm 43,4% sd^ hO nghdo ttong toi tinh [2, tt 86] Cdc nhd khoa hgc gidi thich hii ttfdng ddi ngheo dai dang ciia ngtfdi Klimer ni phdn dia bdn sinh song ciia ngtfdi Khmer lui xa ttung tdm vdn hda, xa chd, xa tttfdng, xa t sd ldm vide cua cdc cd'p ehinh quyen NhuSg l ngtfdi Khmer lai ludn etf tni ede dia b^n thudn ldi cho stf phdt ttien kinh te ? Dilu nky i t h l gidi thich nhilu ly nhtftig mpt troi nhtfng ly dd lidn quan dl^n ylu t l lich sfl" tdn gido Cdc trung tdm vdn hda, chinh tri thifJJi dong dtfc vd on ttong dd ngdi chOa - tm tdm van hda, ndi sinh boat chung cila ngU Khmer lai phu hdp hdn vdi nhffng ndi yen lii tiianh tinh [10, tt 263] Ddy Id m0t l^ gidi Ihi vi ngtfdi Khmer lai thtfdng sinh song d vil sdu, vung xa ndi cd it dieu kidn thudn ldi cho phdt ttiln Mac du t^ Id hg ddi ngheo cQa cdng n ngtfdi bi chi phoi bdi he thdng vdn hda nhtf gid i, chu^n mtfc xa hdi, nilm tin tdn giao Ngtfdi Khmer rd't tin d Dtfc Phdt Phdt Id ndi le chd ve mdt tinh thin giiip hg vtfdt qua mpi ^uy hiem ttong eudc sd'ng Khi gia fflnh cd ngtfdi m dau hay gdp khd khan, hoan nan, hp deu mdi i sdi dl^n nhd tung kinh, nidm Phdt mong cho tai ja nan khdi Vi vdy, mpi gia dinh deu tiid Phat, hat dtfdc ddt d vi tti ttang ttgng nhd^t, thtfdng eao Sn bdn thd to tien Cdc stf kien mang y ngMa lich suf ttong cugc 5i ciia mdt ngtfdi Khmer ttf sinh ra, ldn len, I tu, ctfdi vd, Id^y chong vd ma't di, td't ca deu dtfdc t chtfc theo nhffng tdp tuc rieng Trong ede stf idn dy d i u ed stf tham gia It nhieu ciia cde vi stf iy ndi cdch khac, nd d i u dtfdc t l chtfc vtfa mang nh ddn gian vtfa mang sdc thdi tdn gido "Ngtfdi hmer diing ttf Bon vd Pithi de chi tdt ed cde dam ; ciia hg Bon hay Bonya chi tMtng dam Id dtfde m theo dling ba hanh cua Phat gido Id thg gidi, tiii vd nidm Cdn Pitiii Id nhffng dam Id nhd 3n tiitfdng b^t nguin ttf nhffng tin ngtfdng ddn an md v l sau bi tdn gido, dac bidt la Phat gido 5ng hda It nhieu VI du: Id cat tdc ttd dn mu thi c5t sok bong bak chmon; Id gidp tuoi - pithi dop ehnon " [6, tt 34] NhiJlig thtfc hdnh tdn gido nhtf viec vdo ehua hdnh, thtfc hidn ede nghi le ciia Phdt gido Id mdt Tap chi Khoa hQC so 12 (4-2015) phin khdng t h l thi^u ttong sud^t cudc ddi mdt ngtfdi Khmer "Hiu het ding bdo Khmer dii vdo chiia tu hay khong, hg deu ttf nguyen xem minh id tin d l cua dao Phdt" [1] Vide tu hanh d6^i vdi ngtfdi Khmer khdng dtfdc eoi Id bon phdn hay nhiem vu md la mdt dieu vinh dtf Mgi ngtfdi diu cd the tu hdnh, ridng ttai dein 12,13 tuoi phin ddng dtfdc vdo chtfa m hdnh mgt thdi gian hay tu suot ddi tiiy y Muc dich cuoi cung d vide di tu cua ngtfdi Khmer khdng phai Id de ttd thdnh Phdt md hi d l lam ngtfdi cd nhan cdch, cd phim chat vd dao dtfc ^ t [4, tt U1] Vide vdo chua di tu va vide tham gia vdo cdc boat ddng tdn giao gdp p h i n hinh thdnh nhdn cdch, dao dtfc, loi song cua mdi tin dao Phdt ngtfdi Khmer Cgng d i n g ngtfdi Khmer eung danh gid nhdn cdch vd dao dtfc cua moi cd nhan qua vide cdc cd nhdn thtfc hdnh cdc nghi l l hay tham gia vdo boat ddng mang tlnh tdn gido chung Ngtfdi Khmer tin rfing, vdo chua tu hdnh la de sau ndy hodn tuc ttd thdnh ngtfdi diy du dieu kidn v l nhdn cdch, pham chdt, Do do, ngtfdi ndo khdng xusft gia tu hdnh thi bi mgi ngtfdi khinh re, khd hod nhdp vdo cdng dong Nhtf vdy, vdi cgng ding ngtfdi Khmer viec thtfc hdnh tdn gido da ttd thdnh thtfde do, mOt tidu chuin d l ddnh gid nhan cdch, dao dtfc cua cd nhdn; tham ehi nd Id nhdn td^ quy^t dinh vide cd nhan cd dii ttf cdch d l xdy dtfng gia dinh hay khdng? Nhffng ngtfdi ttai Khmer chtfa vdo chiia di tu thi rat khd Id'y vd, vi ngtfdi gdi Khmer cho rdng dd Id nhtfng ngtfdi chtfa dii phtfdc ldm ching, chtfa dd dieu kien detie^nde^n hdn nhdn Ngtfdc lai, nhffng ngtfdi sau da tu hdnh ttd v l gia dinh vd cgng dong ddn til^p nhtf nhtfng ngtfdi "dd dat", dtfdc cdng ding tdn tigng va rat de xdy dtfng gia ffinh [1] Vi t r i , c h ^ c nSng cua cac ngdi chua cong d i n g ngtfdi Khmer Khi ndi din Phdt gido ttong c^ng dong ngtfdi Khmer chung ta khdng t h l khdng nhdc den vi tri, ehtfc ndng cua ngdi chua Ngtfdi Khmer tin rang: ehua mdi Id dai gia dinh ciia hp, dd, ngtfdi Khmer thtfdng sl^ng ttong nhffng ngdi nhd ddn gidn nhtfhg lai xdy dtfng nhffng ngdi chiia rdt d l so, uy nghi, Idng lly Khdng chi stf sai md phin 67 TRUdNG DAI HOC DONG THAP ldn ding bdo Khmer diu gan bd vdi ehua Hg din chiia khdng chi de tiitfe hdnh nghi Id tdn gido md eon de vui ehdi nhffng hdi, gidi tri ttong llie rdnh rii vd d l hpc tdp Ngoai chtfc nang tdn gido, chua ciia ngtfdi Khmer cbn thtfc hidn rat nMlu chtfc ndng khdc Vi vdy, chiia cd vi tti vai ttd ddc bidt d l i vdi cpng ding Chiia Id ndi thtfe hdnh chtfc nang gido due Trtfdc chiia Id ndi nhCt thtfc hdnh chtfc ndng gido due eho cpng ding Ngay nay, ngtfdi Khmer da ed trtfdng hgc nhiftig chtfe nang gido due v i n dtfdc thtfc hdnh ttong cac ngdi chua Ngtfdi Khmer dl^n chua khdng chi de dpc sdch, bdo, xem truyin hinh md cdn den nghe hil^n ehu trtfdng ehinh sdeh ciia Ddng vd Nhd Ntfdc Cdc buli trien khai khoa hpc ky thudt, trien khai chtfdng tiinh kinh t l - xa hpi vln dtfdc didn d ehiia Chua Id ndi day tid'ng ddn tdc, day vdn hod, dao dtfc vd cd nghe truyin thong cho ngtfdi ddn Ngodi chtfc ndng giao due, chiia edn Id trung tdm bdo ton, phdt huy ngdn ngff, phong tue, dao dtfc truyen thong eiia ngtfdi Khmer Ngtfdi Khmer hge chff ddn tOc diu tien d chiia Ddy cung la ndi sinh hoat tin ngiidng, tdn gido, ndi diln ede 16 hdi tiuyen thd'ng nhtf: Ld Phat Ddn; Le Choi Chom Thmdy (Ie vdo ndm mdi); 16 Sen Dolta (Ie Cling dng Bl) Chinh vi vdy, chua Id ndi thl hidn vd ltfu giff cdc loai hinh nghd thuat dac sac cua cgng ding nhtf: kil^n true, hdi hga, dm nhac, ca mua, truydn, truyen thuyet, kich Mdt khdc, ddy cung Id ndi ntfdng ttfa cua nhffng ngtfdi gid, ngtfdi cd ddn, ngtfdi ed cudc song khd khdn, nhffng tte m l cdi khdng ngtfdi nudi dtfdng, tiidm chl nhffng gia dinh khd khan cung gffi vdo chua Chua Id ndi tiep khach quy cua phum sdc Id ndi hgp bdn ed cdng vide Tap chl Khoa hoc s6 12 (4-20 chung Id ndi hod gidi mpi stf ttanh chap a thudn ttong gia dinh cung nhtf ttong cpng ^ : Mgi vide phtfc tap, rde roi d i u dtfdc dtfa t bac d chiia Vi vdy, chua gdp phin tao stf g^n vd on dinh nilm tin ciia ngtfdi dan Dd Id sdi d gan kl^t ttfng cd nhdn ttong egng ding K^t lu^n Ttf nhffng gi phan tich d tten ehiing ta ^ rdng: Phat gido Nam tdng chi phd'i sau s^c d ddi song tinh thin cua ngtfdi Khmer Nam bp Gi ly cua nhd Phdt ttd thdnh quy tde ttong giao tit tfng xit giffa ngtfdi vdi ngtfdi ttong cpng dong C nghi Ie gdn liln vdi cugc ddi ciia mdi ngi ttf sinh cho tdi mdt di ludn gan lien \ cac nghi Ie tdn gido Viec tham gia cdc hoat 35 tdn gido, hay ndi cdch khae Id cac thtfc hdnh i giao gdp phin hodn thidn nhdn cdch, dao diJc c m l i cd nhdn, nd ttd tieu chuin de cfii dong nhin nhdn ddnh gid dao dtfc vd nhan cdch c ca nhdn cdng dong Ngdi chda ciia ngu Khmer gdn lien vdi mgi sinh hoat ttong dcfi &6: cOa ngtfdi ddn, dd Id Unh hin ciia phum sdc, \k bii tnftig vdn hod ciia dia phtfdng Do do, de ph^t h vai ttd ciia tdn gido ttong vide xay dtfng d6i soi vdn hod mdi cho ngtfdi Khmer hien nay, chiing ein xdy dtfng chiia thdnh tu dilm van hoa, Ik r didn cdc hoat ddng ttf tin ngtfdng ton gi^o c ngtfdi ddn nhtfhg cung Id ndi d l ngtfdi ddn sinh he cgng ding, ndi diln cac hoat ddng gido duc,pl bid'n ehu tttfdng ehinh sdch ciiaDdng va Nhd Nitf khai thde tot gid tri dao dtfc, vdn hoa tot dep ci Phdt gido tiiu thtfa phuc vu cho vide xdy dtlagi sd'ng vdn hod mdi Bdi Ddng ta xdc dinh: "dao d tdn gido cd nhllu dieu phu hdp vdi cong cufic xi dtfng xa hdi mdi" [5, tt 184]./ Tai lidu tham khao [1] Ddng Thanh An (2003), "Vai net v l van hod, tin ngtfdng, tdn gido ciia ding bdo Khd-t Nam BO", Nghiin ciiuTon gido, so 5-2003, ti 46-51 [2] Nguyin Thi Anh, Nguygn Thi NghTa, (2014), "Thtfc ttang, gidi phdp xda ddi gidm ngh doi vdl dong bdo ddn tdc Khmer d khu vtfe Ding bang sdng OCM Long", Tap chi Khoa hoc, TnrS Dai hgc Cin Thd, s l 30/2014, tt 84-91 » -i[3] Trdn Vdn Binh (2004), Vdn hod cdc ddn toe Tdy Nam bo, thUc trang vd nhdng vdndiddti NXB Chinh tri Quoc gia, Hd Ndi [4] Pham Thi PhtfOng Hanh (2012) Vdn hoa Khmer Nam bo net dep bdn sdc vdn hda V Nam, NXB Chinh tri Quo'c gia • y a 68 IVUQNG D A I H O C S N G T H A P Tap chi Khoa hoc s6 12 (4-2015) [5] Hgc vien Chinh tri Quoc gia H i Chi iMinh - Vien Nghien eflu tdn gido va tin ngtfdng (2007), ip bdi gidng ly lugn ve ton gido vd chinh sdch doi vdi ton gido cua Ddng vd Nhd nUdc ta, NXB L^ dn Chinh tii, Hd Ndi [6] Trang Thieu Hung (2013), "Ddc dilm, dien mao cua Phdt giao Nam tdng Khmer Trd Vinh", qhiin ctku Ton gido, sd' 1-2013, tt 34-40 [7] Ngo Vdn Le (2011), "Cdc nhdn to van hda xd hdi dd^i vdi stf phdt ttien vd phdt ttien b i n ?ng c^a cdc tge ngtfdi thilu so, trtfdng hdp nghien cflu ngtfdi Khmer vd Cham Nam bd", Bdi tham dn tai Hdi nghi thong bdo Ddn tgc hgc ndm 2011, Hd Ndi [8] Trin Nggc Sdn (2012), "Dap dfle xa hdi va dao dtfc tdn gido - diem ttfdng dong vd khde et", Nghiin cdu Ton gido, s6 114/12/2012,tt.3-10 [9] Phan Thudn, Le Thi Thuc (2012), "Anh htfdng ciia tdn giao den ddi sdng hdn nhdn, mdt so' ldt hien ttf tong quan nghidn ctfu", Khoa hgc xd hgi Viit Nam, sd' 10, 2012, tt 20-29 [10] Phihp Taylor (2004), Redressing disadvantage or re-arranging inequality? Development iterventions and local responses in the Mekong delta Social inequahty in Vietnam and tiie challenges I reform Published in Singapore by Institute of Southeast Asian Smdies THE ROLE OF THERAVADA BUDDHISM IN KHMER PEOPLE'S LIFE Siunmary The article focuses on describing reUgious beUefs and practices (Theravada Buddhism) to show le role of Theravada Buddhism in the Ufe of Khmer people in Soutii Viemam For tiiem, Buddhist hilosophy plays a key role in their personality and lifeslyle AU important events in their life from irth, up-growth, religious practices in temple, marriage, and death are aU distinctively shaped more r less in Buddhist manners The temple is of great significance in this community Keywords: religious beliefs, religious practices, role of Theravada Buddhism, Buddhist hilosophy, personality and lifestyle of Khmer people 69 ... THAP Nam tdng Khmer da dtfdc cdc cd quan chtfc ndng cho phdp nhdp 350 bg Dai Tang Kinh bang chff Khmer cho cdc chua Phdt gido Nam tdng Khmer d Nam Bg Dilu tao dieu kidn thudn ldi cho ngtfdi ddn Khmer. .. xod ddi gidm nghdo cho c$ dong ngtfdi Khmer "Theo dilu tta flnh hinh ( s6ng cua ngtfdi Khmer d tinh Sdc Trdng vdonJ 1993, CO tdi 67,48% s l ' h d ngtfdi Khmer lai ngheo O hai huyen ngheo nhd't... sud^t cudc ddi mdt ngtfdi Khmer "Hiu het ding bdo Khmer dii vdo chiia tu hay khong, hg deu ttf nguyen xem minh id tin d l cua dao Phdt" [1] Vide tu hanh d6^i vdi ngtfdi Khmer khdng dtfdc eoi Id