Communication Network Management of Dhamma to Heart by Wat Rakhang Khositaram Woramahawihan

Abstract

        The objectives of this research were to study 1) patterns of managing Wat Rakhang Khositaram Woramahawihan’s Dhamma to Heart communication network; 2) maintenance of the communication network; 3) approaches for developing the communication network; and 4) problems that people at Wat Rakhang Khositaram Woramahawihan experienced with management of the Dhamma to Heart communication network. This was a qualitative research based on in-depth interviews and a focus group discussion. The research tool was an in-depth interview form. The 27 key informants were purposively selected from among people involved with the process of creating the Dhamma to Heart communication network. Seven of them were interviewed, comprising 1) two monks with administrative positions and 2) 5 monks in the Dhamma to Heart communication network; while 20 informants participated in the focus group discussion, comprising 1) 10 Buddhist lay people in the Dhamma to Heart communication network who regularly undertook observance of the precepts and 2) 10 members of the Dhamma to Heart communication network who were members of the “Merit-making family of Dhamma to Heart by Wat Rakhang Khositaram Woramahawihan” group on the Line application. The data were analyzed deductively.   

        The results showed that 1) Communication network management - Wat Rakhang Khositaram Woramahawihan’s Dhamma to Heart project is an issue-based and activity-based network with the main activities being praying and novice ordination during the summer vacation at the end of the school year. These are the major factors for organizational cohesion. The Dhamma to Heart network can be characterized as a close-knit network. 2) Network maintenance – The network operates continuously with activities throughout the year. Every activity emphasizes maintaining and strengthening good relationships among the network members. There are mechanisms that are systematically used to continuously create incentives for members to participate in activities. An atmosphere of warmth is fostered so that members feel they are all one big family. Pious donors offer support by hosting activities and making donations. Members can access help from within the network for solving any problems they may have. The network’s activities help continuously build up a new generation of leaders. 3) Approaches for development - Wat Rakhang Khositaram Woramahawihan aims to develop its communication through the Dhamma to Heart dissemination work division that is the central core in charge of keeping network members connected. Many communication channels are utilized, especially “new media” that are conducive to promoting ongoing discussion and knowledge exchange. The new media that are used include the “Merit-making family of Dhamma to Heart by Wat Rakhang Khositaram Woramahawihan” group on the Line application, the Dhamma to Heart Facebook group, the Dhamma to Heart dissemination work division’s Facebook group, the Wat Rakhang Khositaram Woramahawihan Facebook page, and the http://www.watrakang.com website. These are all used to spread public relations messages and encourage people to join in the activities. 4) Problems encountered include the COVID-19 pandemic, which meant that only limited numbers of members could join in activities, and some of the activities had to be curtailed or cancelled altogether due to the public health mandates at the time. Another difficulty was that some members had misunderstandings in the communications about activities, but they were mostly able to straighten them out and resolve those difficulties.