The Development of Wat Mai (Yai Paen) Public Sector Mediation Center, Bangkok Noi District, Bangkok, Based on Buddhist Peaceful Means

Abstract

The study entitled “The Development of Wat Mai (Yai Paen) Public Sector Mediation Center, Bangkok Noi District, Bangkok, based on Buddhist Peaceful Means” employed both qualitative research and action research methods with the following objectives: 1) to investigate the context, problems, needs, as well as concepts on dispute mediation, in relation to the development of Wat Mai (Yai Paen) public sector mediation center, Bangkok Noi District, Bangkok; 2) to explore the Buddhist peaceful means favorable to the development of Wat Mai (Yai Paen) public sector mediation center, Bangkok Noi District, Bangkok; and 3) to propose the development of Wat Mai (Yai Paen) public sector mediation center, Bangkok Noi District, Bangkok.

From the study, the following results are found: 1) The research context indicated that there is an elevated probability of conflict, but the problem-solving strategies remain the same, relying on dispute mediation by community leaders. However, the outcome of the agreement is not legally enforceable as legally recognized dispute mediation must be mediated by a state-licensed organization as an operator. Wat Mai (Yai Paen) community requires a conflict mediation agency inside the community; therefore, a public sector mediation sector based on the Dispute Mediation Act B.E. 2562 is required to ensure that dispute mediation will be legally certified. With the establishment of Wat Mai (Yai Paen) Public Sector Mediation Center, the concept on organizational development has been integrated to develop personnel for dispute mediation in the community; 2) Sāraṇīyadhamma (six states of conciliation) has been applied for coexisting in the society, which is aligned with the concepts on public engagement where laws and regulations are required. Sāraṇīyadhamma can be used as a guideline to manage the center and develop the dispute mediation properly; and 3) The development process is divided into 5 stages which are: (1) Gathering, (2) Enhancing, (3) Adjusting the process, (4) Developing the task, and (5) Sustaining. This results the temple in the following characteristics: an integrated temple, a determined temple, a mediated temple, a truthful temple, an awakened temple, and a wisdom temple.