THE ROLES OF THE BUDDHIST MONKS IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IN THE AREA OF YANGKHOM SUB-DISTRICT, PIPUN DISTRICT, NAKHON SI THAMMARAT PROVINCE.

Abstract

The objectives of this research were: 1) to study the role of the Buddhist monks in the community development in Yankhom, Phipun district, Nakhon Si Thammarat province, 2) to compare the role of the Buddhist monks in community development classified by their gender, age, education, occupation and monthly income, and 3) to study the suggestions on the ways to promote the role of the Buddhist monks in the community development. By using simple random sampling, the research instrument was a questionnaire developed by the researcher.

         The results were found:

1. The role of Buddhist monks in the community development in Yankhm sub-district, Phipun district, Nakhon Si Thammarat province, the overall is very high. In each case, the social aspect was the highest (= 4.00), followed by the environment ( = 3.95), culture ( = 3.94) and economic ( = 3.78) for public health. When it comes to gender, age, education level, occupation and income per month, it is found that people who have opinions on the role of monks in community development are at a high level ( = 3.76), for the public health was the lowest mean ( = 3.76). When classified according to gender, age, educational level, occupation and monthly income, it was found that people who had opinions on the role of the Buddhist monks in community development were at a high level.


2. The results of the comparison of the roles of the Buddhist monks in community development in Yankhom sub-district, Phipun district, Nakhon Si Thammarat province were classified by gender, age, education level, occupation and monthly income. It found that the people’s opinion with age on the role of Buddhist monks in community development is not different, but the people’s opinion with different age, education, occupation and monthly income. There was a statistically significant difference at 0.05 level regarding the role of Buddhist monks in community development.


3. The guideline to promote the role of the Buddhist monks in community development in the area of ​​Yankhom sub-district, Phipun district, Nakhon Si Thammarat province showed that the people suggested the role of Buddhist monks in the community development; In the social aspect is that the Buddhist monks should preach and train in order to make the people in the community love the unity in the community. Acting in a spiritual leadership and be a good role model in the practice by way of Buddhism. In the economic aspect, the Buddhist monks acted as good examples in living the sufficiency economy. Provide the temple as a center for supporting occupations or promoting products in the community. In the culture aspect, the Buddhist monks should teach about local culture and traditions to children and youth in the community. In the public health aspect, the Buddhist monks should practice good role models and teach Dharma to promote the healing of diseases or drugs to the people in the community. The monks should be good examples of community cleanliness and restoration, conservation of forests and watersheds in the community.