The Development of Sappāya-sathan Contributing to Youth Development by Buddhist Peaceful Means

Abstract

This research article has the following objectives: 1) to study the problems conditions, needs, concepts, theories, and the Buddhist peaceful means about the development of suitable (sappāya) places contributing to youth development; and 2) to present the development of suitable (sappāya) places contributing to youth development by Buddhist peaceful means by applying a mixed research method. The research tools used were an in-depth interview with 30 experts, a focus group discussion with 16 experts, and a satisfaction survey with a 3-level Likert rating scale from 340 youths. The quantitative data were analyzed by percentage and standard deviation, while the qualitative data were examined by inductive method.

From the study, the following results are found:

1) Today there are few places that are conductive to youth training. The project owner can develop the place by applying the concept of Architectural Design Principles in conjunction with the 7 Sappāya Principles.

2) The development of suitable (sappāya) places contributing to youth development based on the Buddhist peaceful means consists of sappāya-based building, with the following details: (1) Placing a master plan based on Dhamma Vinaya, laying down landscape to be clean, safe, and shady with useable space equal to building users and their ages, as well as being legal; (2) Resolving impacts arisen from the project location and manage traffic appropriately; (3) Having good audio-visual equipment, a public address system, and using architecture as a tool to teach Dhamma; (4) Having places to accommodate people from various groups; (5) Having canteen so that food are quality and hygienic with good taste; (6) Having a clear and cool weather; and (7) Having space that allows activities like as meditation and self-study. From surveying the satisfaction of youth toward a model of suitable (sappāya) places contributing to youth development, it was found that youth were satisfied, in the following order : physical space is at the highest (  = 2.93, S.D. = 0.28), followed by intellectual space (  = 2.84, S.D. = 0.39) and learning space (  = 2.77, S.D. = 0.45), respectively. A body of knowledge from the study is ‘7s plus 3’ model.