local Buddhist culture, can be represented through the conflicts and the compromise
between original belief and Buddhism, and the combination between original belief
and Buddhist rituals. 4) Conveying meaning through the Mekong river culture, can be
shown by transforming natural objects into sacred symbols, associating location with
sacred meaning for the Mekong river, the symbolic creatures and natural trees
transform the sacred river into holiness, the symbol of connectivity between Earth and
heaven. And 5) Conveying meaning through feminine culture, can be demonstrated
through the discrimination of women from the Buddhist world, the power of
negotiation for women to patronize Buddhism and innovative meaning for the
Buddhist shown through the feminine figure.
The myths of the Buddha image have the role of enhancing social
relationships from 3 aspects. 1) The role of relationships in the dimension of social
conflict, namely the conflict within ethnic groups - between Laos ethnic groups and
the Laos people and the conflict between Thai ethnic groups and the Thai people.
Moreover, the conflict outside ethnic groups between Laos people and Thai people,
Laos people with other groups and Thai people with other groups. 2) The role of
relationships in the dimension of social compromise and acceptance, can be seen
through compromise and acceptance within the group, both in the Laos groups and
the Thai groups, compromise and acceptance outside the groups, between Laos
people and Thai people, Laos people and other groups and Thai people with other
groups. There is a cultural interaction in terms of cultural acculturation, cultural
assimilation and cultural integration acceptance. And 3) The role of relationships in the
dimension of the border crossing between Thai and Laos, can be expressed through
myths of the Buddha imagewith nationalism, expatriate phenomenon and tourism.
The myths of the Buddha image in the Thai-Laos border communities have
the role of conveying cultural meaning which reflects the thought processes of the
people. They have commitment with belief together with the Buddhist symbol which
can bind people’s spirit together. Furthermore, there is the role of enhancing social
relationships for Buddhist people who have the Buddha image as a significant symbol.
The relationship between ethnic groups can be shown in terms of great harmony or
discord and leads to the sense and ethnic characteristics within the groups. Myths of
the Buddha image do not only have the role of enhancing social relationships within
