The Online Comnunication Process Through The Facebook Of Monks To Promote Peace By Buddhist Peaceful Means

Abstract

The research article consisted of three objectives: 1) to study the current conditions and problems of the online communication through Facebook of Thai monks at the present time and the communication process for peace; 2) to study the Buddhist peaceful means that promotes the online communication process through Facebook of Thai monks; and 3) to present the online communication process through Facebook of monks to promote peace by Buddhist peaceful means. This was a qualitative research focusing on documentary research and interview with related experts in Buddhism and Buddhist peaceful means, scholars on the peaceful means, scholars on sociology, and journalists, in a total of 9 persons. From the study, it was found as follows: the current conditions and problems of the online communication through Facebook of Thai monks at the present time are against the Buddhist doctrine on Subhāsitavācā (Well-Spoken Speech). Including, there have been fake news, hate speech, the post on Facebook of worthless content imitating the way of laypeople, lack of mindfulness to adjust the open-minded attitude for the body of knowledge in order to accommodate the new media, lack of development on content skills, and lack of network to work as a team. Therefore, it is necessary for monks to adjust their attitude and seek new knowledge on the basic communication theory of SMCR by David K. Berlo, the theory of Peace Journalism, “4N”, by Johan Galtung, and the approach on Nonviolent Communication (NVC) by Marshall Rosenberg, having 4 monks as the role models. The Buddhist peaceful means on Subhāsitavācā should also be integrated together with the principles on mettā (loving-kindness), karuṇā (compassion), khanti-dhamma (tolerance) with mindfulness as a base according to the “7M” model (monk sending messages for international peace and happiness). Moreover, monks should analyze and assess themselves and the receivers (R) based on Yonisomanasikāra (analytical thinking), observing the feelings and the needs, as well as designing contents that are accurate, pleasant, timely and beneficial. The principles on “4N” and “NVC” should also be included in order to have appropriate contents for Facebook and have them delivered in a polite manner. Every step requires mindfulness, impartiality, loving-kindness, compassion in order for online communication through Facebook to result in international peace and happiness.