The Guidelines for Financial Management Based on the Buddhist Integration of Women's Group, Sawai Sub-district, Prang Ku District, Sisaket Province

Abstract

  This research article consisted of three objectives: 1) to study the contexts, problems, and obstacles of financial management of Sawai subdistrict women’s group. 2) to study concepts and ways of practices for financial management according to Theravada Buddhism and 3) to develop and present the Guidelines for Financial Management Based on the Buddhist Integration of Women's Group, Sawai Sub-district, Prang Ku District Sisaket Province. This was the qualitative research; the 32 person of in-depth interview, the 9 person of focus group discussion, the 20 person of training or the experiments form Buddhist scholars, financiers, and accountants, and volunteers women’s group. Present the research result by depiction.

          The research results were found as follows: 1. the contexts of financial management of Sawai subdistrict women’s group are as follows: 1) The financial operations are not systematic, lacking confidence as well as motive,they are in debt, lacks skills,  lack of discipline in spending, no plan for a fixed expense, lack of knowledge in finance and accounting and lack awareness. 2. The concepts and ways of practice for financial management according to Theravada Buddhism take the principle; Diṭṭhadhammikattha saṃvattanika-dhamma 1) achive- ment of diligence; 2) achievement of protection; 3) association with good people; 4) living economically. Another principle is Kula-ciraṭṭhiti-dhamma: 1) seeking for what is lost; 2) repairing what is worn out; 3) moderation in spending 4) putting in authority a virtuous woman or man. For managing wealth, it must follow the principle on Bhogavibhāga: 1) one part to live and do duties towards others; 2) two parts to expand business; and 3) one part for saving. 3. The guidelines for Buddhist financial management of women’s group, Sawai Subdistrict, Prang Ku District, Sisaket province, it was found that the principle of the household account management are 4 divisions: one part to live; two parts to expand business and one part for saving. The virtues leading to temporal welfare which: to be diligent in working; to save up; to associate with good people; and to spend moderately. The household account table, The 4 elements include; 1) revenues, 2) expenses, 3) liabilities, and 4) balance, and the 10 lists consist of 1) date/month/year, 2) lists, 3) revenues, 4) expenses, 5) liabilities, 6) savings, 7) gains, 8) losses, 9) balance, and 10) analysis. The financial information will be beneficial only when the account holders adjust their perspectives, social values, and behavior, only through this, they will be financially successful.