“SỐNG GỬI, THÁC VỀ” (TO LIVE IS TEMPORARY, TO DIE IS COMING BACK) – IMPACT OF HUMAN LIFE PHILOSOPHY ON RELIGIOUS PRACTICE AND ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES AMONGST KHMER ETHNIC PEOPLE IN THE MEKONG DELTA TODAY

Abstract

The Khmer people in the Mekong Delta are mostly Theravada Buddhism's followers, thus the philosophical views of “sống gửi, thác về” – often mentioned in Theravada Buddhism - has dominated their activities and movements. Along with understanding the impact of this philosophy on life and religious behavior, the article analyzes economic activities of Khmer people under the influence of religious beliefs and as factors of right action, right livelihood to create genuine benefits to support themselves and their families; as well as use this benefit to make offerings to the monks, dedicate merit to deceased relatives and donate money to charity to create many blessings to enjoy in the afterlife.