The actors’ lack of awareness of the regularities in their adaptation of the official rules may be an indication of the impact of the historical “Great Tradition”; open breaches of the official code of behavior seem to be on the wane. Especially since the beginning of the Chakri dynasty, in the last part of the eighteenth century, the central government has, with increasing success, tried to propagate strict adherence to the rules. The administrative organization of the Thai Samgha makes it possible that decrees concerning proper monastic conduct will be heard even in isolated rural monasteries. The farming community generally looks favorably upon such reforms. In the view of many farmers, strong discipline is related to strong forces emanating from the members of the Samgha when they perform their rituals.
Wadsaancaw Farmers do not continually connect every aspect of monastic discipline with the acquisition of magical force ; this would set them at variance with the teachings of the Buddhist church. After all, in radio talks and in official documents, the automatic reward for behaving according to the rules as they are laid down in the Patimokkha is not magical power, but an increase in merit. However, as an illustration of the manner in which the farmers come to terms with much of the Buddhist doctrine, it can be noted how such a key concept of Buddhism as that of merit is related to other aspects of their religious outlook.
Merit and Good Luck
In a section of L.M. Hanks 1962 article, he remarks on the different roles of merit and power in the explanation of successful behavior. He argues that these two concepts can form alternative explanations for the occurrence of such behavior. The Wadsaancaw evidence goes much further in delineating the relation between the two concepts. Merit can be seen as a beneficial and protective force which extends over a long period of time, and which links individuals together. The ideas concerning the role of merit in the life cycle are put into a time perspective in Table II. Merit has a long-term effect; the protective magical power, however, can be seen as the immediate, specifically temporary aspect of merit. Therefore, the concepts of merit and power of a specific kind are intimately linked. It must be noted, however, that it is only the beneficial power which is thus connected with merit. The most aggressive magical forces can often be associated with demerit
Therefore, through the actions of the monks---which generate power----results may be obtained for the immediate future, and at the same time, long-term changes are ensured by the increase in the store of merit. Although analysis of historical data may suggest quite different developments, to the farmers it is no coincidence that the most crucial period of the agricultural cycle falls at the time that religious activities in the monastery are at their peak. The frequent chanting and meditation sessions of the group of monks can have a good influence on the growth of rice and the abundance of the rains. Even if the circumstances happen to be unfavorable for the farmers, the religious activity may have warded off a worse situation.
Similarly, a layperson attending a religious ceremony will surely gain some merit for a future life. This does not prevent him from assuming, however, that his chances to win a prize in the lottery are at their best immediately after having obtained some merit. In this right, a remark of a famous Thai monk becomes understandable.