The Idea of Building a Pond to Create a Sustainable Groundwater Bank Based on and Integration with Buddhism

Abstract

Based on the research article, the researcher aimed at proposing the idea of building a pond to create a sustainable groundwater bank based on an integration with Buddhism. The researcher studied ideas for building a pond that occurred in Buddhism and modern sciences, analyzed and combined the ideas, and created a sustainable groundwater bank based on a Buddhist integration. Buddhism has a practice of building ponds on a regular basis with the following specifics: building steps for access up and down, placing the head of the railing column, setting up a fence around the pool, placing an earthen ridge at the pool's edge, planting lotus flowers in the water, and using the areas around the pool's edge for dāna (giving) activities. In modern sciences, the idea of building a pond based on Khok Nong Na Model for storing water for small irrigation, in which the soil for building a pond can be used to create ‘Khok’ or mounds for cultivating three different types of plants that provide four different types of benefits, such as digging a canal, making a weir, and creating a big ridge. This allows farmers to cultivate a variety of plants while also storing groundwater in both open and closed systems. This will also assist with the problems of drought, flooding, salty water, and unclean water, while also moistening the soil and lowering the cost of water management in the area. There are ten steps for building a pond to create a sustainable groundwater bank: (1) building a pond for water storage; (2) building steps for access up and down; (3) placing the head of the railing column and setting up a fence around the pool; (4) placing a big earthen ridge at the pool’s edge which can used for planting vegetables called ‘Kan din thong kam’; (5) Planting various lotuses in the pond; (6) using the soils used in the construction of a pond to develop three different sorts of plants that give four different kinds of benefits; (7) digging a zigzag canal or field ditch; (8) making a weir to slow down water; and (9) using the areas around a pond as a place to do dāna (giving) or conduct a variety of activities. Building a pond to create groundwater bank allows ones to have sufficient water to use throughout the year.