A Model for Developing Model Youth Leaders through Moral Training by Buddhist Peaceful Means in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province

Abstract

The research article consisted of the following objectives: 1) to analyze problems, needs, as well as concepts and theories on the development of model youth leaders based on modern science; 2) to explore the Buddhist peaceful means conducive to the development of model youth leaders on morality; and 3) to present the model for developing model youth leaders through moral training by Buddhist peaceful means in Nakhon Si Thammarat province. The action research approach was used in the study, which included document synthesis and in-depth interviews with experts. Experts consisted of those who were knowledgeable and had expertise in the following areas: family and parents, teachers and trainers, model youth leaders, moral development of youth, organizations about youth leader development, Buddhism, and Buddhist peaceful means, who were selected by purposive sampling. The areas for the study was a 4-day (28 hours) online course on ‘model youth leaders on morality by Buddhist peaceful means’ with a sample group of 30 youths.

From the study, the following results are as follows: 1) The current problems of youth include a lack of morality, immunity, media awareness, responsibility, discipline, honesty, volunteerism, and gratitude; 2) The Buddhist peaceful means conducive to the development of model youth leaders on morality include Bhāvanā (4 development) as the development achievement, Tisikkhā [the threefold learning: sīla (morality), samādhi (concentration), paññā (wisdom)] as the development process, together with the supporting Dhamma which are Saṅgahavatthu (4 bases of social solidarity) and Iddhipāda (4 noble truths); and 3) The model for developing model youth leaders through moral training by Buddhist peaceful means in Nakhon Si Thammarat province is called ‘KSMA Model’ comprising (1) ‘K’ stands for knowledge of model youth leaders, (2) ‘S’ stands for skills of model youth leaders, (3) ‘M’ stands for morality of model youth leaders, and (4) ‘A’ stands for action of model youth leaders on morality.