Strategies of Communicating Dharma for Developing Youths: A Case Study of the Dharma Camp and the Centre of Buddhist Learning in Putthamonthon

Abstract

The objectives of this research are 1) to study the processes of communicating Dharma 2) to study the strategies of communicating Dharma 3) to studythe knowledge, attitude, and satisfaction of the participants in the camp of moral and

religious. This research is based on qualitative research methodology by participatory observation of the participants, in-depth interview, focus group interview the trainers and the trainees form36 persons and it is also based on quantitative methodology by using a questionnaire to collect data from a sample of 309 students attending the Dharma camp. It was found that;

1) The process of communication Ethics is a large group communication and a semi-formal communication. The elements of effective communication include: (1) the sender have the knowledge of both secular and religious. They have the ability to communicate well, the experience in training high, highly-reliable personality and friendship (2) There are both theoretical and practical of the content of the training divided into three sectors, namely the entertaining activity, Dharma learning, and peaceful practice (3) The channel of training is to combine a variety of media include : personal media, natural media, electronic media, printing media, new technology media, material or object media, image and animation media, audio-visual media, music and sound media. (4) The receivers are different according to sex, age, education, the environment etc.

2) Strategic communication ethics is to use technique or a combination of a variety of communication methods as follows; (1) strategies of Buddhist missionaries. (2) the communication strategy of verbal language as follows ; speaking verse,

speaking the frame sentences, speaking and repeating, stopping some word for speaking continually, speaking dialect, speaking slang language of teenager, speaking foreign languages, speaking metaphors, speaking friendly, speaking to hit story of the society, speaking their experience, speaking a yarn and speaking a questions and answers. (3) Strategic communication nonverbal to complement verbal language (4) Media Strategies is an integrated blend into the training activities. (5) The communication strategy for persuasion and psychological communication

3) Knowledge, attitude and satisfaction of the trainees who participated in the training Dharma camp 309 people found that the Buddhist understanding of the trainees increased up. The trainee's attitude toward communication and strategic

communication process is good. And al lareextremely happy to participate in this Dharma camp.