The Development of Religious Heirs to Preserve Buddhism by Buddhist Peaceful Means: A Case Study of Dhammamongkol Taobunnonthavihara Temple, Bangkok

Abstract

The research article included the following objectives: 1) to analyze the context, problems, needs and concepts of the process of developing religious heirs for the preservation of Buddhism according to modern science; 2) to analyze the Buddhist peaceful means conducive to the process of developing religious heirs for the preservation of Buddhism; and 3) to develop and present the process of developing religious heirs for the preservation of Buddhism through Buddhist peaceful means of Dhammamongkol Taobunnonthavihara Temple in Bangkok. The study employed research and development method based on the 9-step procedure. The sample group included 21 novices of Phra Pariyattidhamma School of Wat Dhammamongkol, who were chosen by using Taro Yamane formula. The tools used for data collection were a questionnaire, interview form, observation form, and test. The obtained data were analyzed by content analysis.

According to the study, the results revealed as follows: 1) The number of religious heirs has declined, with a lack of confidence in expressing themselves and in leadership, as well as a lack of desire to set goals in life and enthusiasm. There is an excess of extrinsic motivation. They also lack responsibility for their study commitments and other structural problems that prevent them from developing in other areas; 2) The Buddhist peaceful means conducive to the process of developing religious heirs to preserve Buddhism include Bala (five powers), containing saddhā (faith), viriya (effort), sati (mindfulness), samādhi (concentration) and paññā (wisdom), along with Bhāvanā (four areas of development) as the results, including kaya-bhāvanā (physical development), sīla-bhāvanā (moral development), citta-bhāvanā (emotional development) and paññā-bhāvanā (wisdom development), and Tisikkhā (the threefold learning) as an indicator; 3) The 'ICP Process' is the process of developing religious heirs for the preservation of Buddhism through Buddhist peaceful means. It consists of (1) inspiration, (2) collaboration, and (3) production, with development in six areas, including life skills, motivation and life goals, inner peace, Buddhist peaceful means, Buddhism communication and propagation, and model religious heirs.