A SITUATION AND BUDDHIST MANAGEMENT OF STRESSES: A CASE STUDY OF SANGHA IN NAKORN NAYOK AND SRAKAEW PROVINCES

Abstract

The study of a situation and Buddhist management of stresses: a case study of sangha in Nakorn Nayok and Srakaew Provinces. This mixed-method study had three objectives: to analyze stressful situations and methods of stress management used by monks in Nakorn Nayok and Srakaew provinces; to analyze core Buddhist teachings and their application in a stress management program; to propose guidelines in correspondence to modern social contexts. The research tools comprised a survey of 262 monks employing the Yamane sampling method; an interview of 15 Buddhism experts (monks and academics); focus group discussions and workshops.
The research found that the main stress factor the monks faced was anxiety caused by their obligation to help people solve their problems, followed by indirect negative impact caused by stressful people in their immediate community, and anxiety about their own health problems. The findings led to three suggestions. First, the monks in charge of administration and management should develop co-learning processes related to job management and allocation skills. In addition, laypeople should be given more opportunities to arrange religious activities in collaboration with monks. Second, four main Buddhist concepts, The Three characteristics or “trilaksana”, the Four Noble Truths, Critical Reflection, and Mindfulness & Meditation, should be applied in stress management as they can assist monks in problem solving and reasoning processes by identifying causes of problems and finding solutions, guided by mindfulness and wisdom. Third, to apply Buddhist teachings in modern contexts, it is useful for monks to learn more about healthy living concepts. Not only can monks maximize their potential to achieve good health, they can promote such ideas among Buddhist laypeople. Most importantly, this would help re-establish the role of the temple as the center of the community. It is expected that this would reduce the stress of monks.
Finally, to support the future changes as recommended, two activities should be incorporated. First, a mobile health checkup service for monks should be provided by the Offices of Buddhism in Nakhon Nayok and Srakaew to be a starting point to collect information for a database for future holistic healthcare improvement. Last, the guidelines from this research should be applied and implemented in other provinces by the Office of National Buddhism with the aim of gaining more information about stress in the monkhood.