New Buddhist-led lifestyle and development of community’s health and economy: Phromlok temple, Phrom Khiri district, Nakhon Si Thammarat province

Abstract

This article aims to 1) study the learning process to develop health and economic community at Prom Lok temple and2) to study the implementation of the new Buddhist doctrinesin improving health and economy communityof Prom Loktemple. This article is a qualitative research that focuses on field studies in the temple’s area and the surrounded community of Prom Lok temple. The research method was carried out into two parts, the first part is the learning process to develop health and economic community at Prom Lok temple and the second part is the implementation of the new Buddhist doctrines in improving health and economy community of Prom Loktempleto a new lifestyle. The researcher collected data and cooperative action by using questionnaires, observation without participation and participation in all directions, in-depth interviews with 7 people, group interviews with experiences (Ex-postfacto approach), and semi-formal meetings on related issues (focus group interviews and focus group discussions), data analysis, lesson transcription, and theoretical synthesis.

The results found that 1) the learning process for development is learning from the stories of the previous generation and from the actual practice to learn the lesson and develop it by creating learning people and learning groups to improve and develop activities and 2) the adaptation of a new way of life practice can be applied in conjunction with the PhutthaTham principle in the practice of the Benjasin and the Benjatham for the health and economic development of people in the community under the faith of the monk and the leader in integrated management to be benefitial both health qualities, and economy.