THE DEVELOPMENT OF SANGHA ADMINISTRATION OF PHOTHARAM DISTRICT, RATCHABURI PROVINCE

Abstract

The purposes of this research were 1) to study the level of development of Sangha administration in Photharam District, Ratchaburi Province, 2) to compare the level of practice towards the development of Sangha administration in Photharam District, Ratchaburi Province by classifying according to personal factors, and 3) to study problems, obstacles, and suggestions for the development of Sangha administration in Photharam District, Ratchaburi Province. The study was the mixed method research between quantitative and qualitative research. In term of quantitative research, it used the questionnaire as the tool to collect the data in the field study from 257 monks in Photharam district, Ratchaburi province. The data were analyzed through frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, t-test, F-test, one-way analysis of variance. In term of qualitative research, using the documentary analysis and interview as the tools to collect the data in the field study from 9 key informants and analyzed the data through the content analysis technique. The research results found that: 1) Development of Sangha administration in Photharam District, Ratchaburi Province in overall, it was at a moderate level and all aspects were at a moderate level. When considering each aspect, it was found that the aspect with the highest average was the aspect of efficiency at a moderate level. The aspect with the lowest average was the aspect of adaptation at a moderate level. 2) Comparisons results of practice level towards the development of Sangha administration in Photharam District, Ratchaburi Province by classifying according to personal factors was found that status, age, years of ordination and general educational qualifications had an effect on opinions towards the development of the Sangha administration in Photharam District, Ratchaburi Province, overall being significantly different at the 0.01 and 0.05 levels, therefore, hypothesis was accepted. As for the Dhamma educational qualification, it had an effect on opinions towards the development of the Sangha administration in Photharam District, Ratchaburi Province, in overall was not different, and so the hypothesis was rejected. 3) Problems, Obstacles, and Suggestions: it was found that the problems and obstacles included that the Sangha in Photharam District still lacked of analysis and solutions to social and economic problems in the current situation, which was an obstacle in the development of the Sangha administration at present. Moreover, the Photharam District Sangha still had a newly established monastery, which still had problems in terms of location, personnel, and conflicts with the legal system of the Sangha and the government. As for suggestions, the Sangha in Photharam District should have a plan to analyze and set up a system of regulations and guidelines to prevent social and economic problems in the current situation for the development of the Sangha, and should promote skills and knowledge for the Sangha personnel in order to perform their duties more efficiently. As well as the Photharam District Sangha should urge the monastery to properly upgrade its status to a temple and develop both the location and personnel in order to support the development of administrative management of the Sangha in Photharam District.