STRATEGY FOR IMPLEMENTING SANGHA ADMINISTRATION MANAGEMENT POLICY OF CHIEF MONKS IN SANGHA ADMINISTRATION AREA RAYONG PROVINCE

Abstract

The objectives of this study were 1) to examine level of strategy for implementing the Sangha Administration Management Policy, 2) to analyze factors driving the administration of Sangha affairs affecting the strategy of implementing the Sangha administration management policy into practice, and 3) to propose guidelines for developing strategies for implementing Sangha Administration Management Policies into practice of chief monks in Rayong Province. The research methodology used was mixed method. The study population were 2,521 monks who were affiliated with temples in the Sangha Administration Area, Mueang Rayong District, Rayong Province (Maha Nikaya). The sample size of 333 monks was determined by Krejci & Morgan table. Ten chief monks of the Sangha at district level and sub-district level, and 6 heads of government agencies were interviewed. The study instruments were questionnaire and interviewed form. The reliability of the questionnaire was .95. The interviewed data were analyzed by content analysis. Statistics used for data analysis were frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and multiple regression.

        The study results revealed that 1) level of strategy for implementing the Sangha administration management policy as a whole was at a moderate level. When considering each aspect in order of mean from high to low found that 2 aspects were at much levels including public welfare, and utilities; 4 aspects were at moderate levels consisted of propagation of Buddhism, administrative, religious studies, and education. 2)  Analysis results of factors driving administration of Sangha affairs affecting strategy of implementing Sangha administration management policy into practice showed that structure, work system, management style, and personnel, affected the strategy for implementing Sangha administration management policy at 72.1% with statistically significant level of .05. 3)  Guidelines for developing strategies for implementing Sangha administration management policy into the practice of monks in Rayong Province were as following: 1) established a committee, work proactively, should quickly arrange meetings to reach conclusions, 2) making morning and evening observances  with 10-15 minutes meeting before, 3) people should take part in the activities of the temple “Temples are treasures of the villagers.”, 4) villagers could use temple buildings to organize various activities, and 5) should hold people's faith in living together.