Abstract

           This study has three objectives to: 1) study of the behavior of Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) staff at Pleonchit Head Office in Bangkok, who make food offering for alms collection; 2) study the influence factor for making the food offering of the MEA staff at Pleonchit Head Office in Bangkok; and 3) study of how to encourage the MEA staff at Pleonchit Head Office in Bangkok, to make food offering for alms collection.  In the experimental research, a group of the 309 MEA staff at Pleonchit Head Office in Bangkok, as well as six other random individuals were interviewed.   All data collected were from questionnaires and interviews.   The statistical data using frequency, average, mean and standard deviation were analyzed.  However, the content analysis was used to analyze the data from the open-ended questions and interviews. 

               From the study, it was found that:

1)      The behavior of the MEA staff at Pleonchit Head Office in Bangkok,

who make food offering for alms collection, showed that they do not frequently make an offer.  They actually make the offer in an average of 25 times per year.  The

location of offering is normally in front of their residence.  Typically, the birthday will

be the most important day to make the offer.  As far as the type of food offering, the meat dish will be commonly chosen.  Basically, the budget for food preparation is between 51 to 100 baht.  After the offering, they will pour ceremonial water for transference of merits to their departed relatives. The staff usually buy the delicatessen from the market for convenience.

               2) The influence factor for making the food offering of the MEA staff at Pleonchit Head Office in Bangkok divides into two aspects. One is for an objective goal. Ones make merits for themselves as well as others. Another is for their personal belief which is considered as a substantial level of belief.  In addition, male and female have different level of beliefs, at the .05 statistical point. Female has higher level of belief than male does. Although marital status, age, education, job title and salary may differ, their beliefs in general are not different.

          3) There are three ways to encourage food offering for alms collection:  benefit of self or egoism (Attatha), welfare or benefit of others or altruism (Parattha) and religious benefit.  Benefit of self or egoism (Attatha) is a sense of self-importance (self-interest) or self-development.  Sharing foods under one’s own possession is an ideal.  This is a beginning of self-sacrifice.  It is one way to benefit self, depend on self, train for committing good deeds, educate self and persevere for hard work, for instance.  Welfare or benefit of others or Altruism (Parattha) is a sense of giving.  It is to arouse one’s own interest to believe how valuable Buddha’s teaching is.  This is one way to propagate the religion. By offering foods to the monks, one is encouraged a way to perform religious practice which is a way to propagate Buddha’s teaching.  Religious benefit is a way to instill virtue in one’s mind having the monks or other religious materials such as temple, vihara (hall of a temple), pagoda, Buddha’s relics, painting, sculpture, meditation centers as well as public relation as a medium to encourage food offerings.

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