Abstract
The present study has undertaken three dominant objectives viz. 1) to study the concepts in propagation of Theravada Buddhism, 2) to study the processes in propagation of Buddhist Sangha in Pakse District, Champasak Province, and 3) to analyze the roles of Buddhist Sangha in propagation in Pakse District, Champasak Province. Academic documents, related research works and focus group interviewing have been spelt out for the study as well as the analyzing and concluding the data selected.
The results of research as follows;
The propagation of Buddhism has been continuously conducting in Pakse whereas the Buddhist Sangha was directly responsible for this propagation in accordance with the effectiveness and readiness in propagation of Buddhism particularly in realizing to extensively spread out Buddhism and maintaining Buddhism in Pakse. However, the propagation of Buddhism was not accorded enough for the need of the people and youths due to the lack of the preachers in spreading Buddhism. The methods and techniques being used for the propagation of Buddhism in Pakse municipality were the pristine and applied forms of propagation for the suitability of the occasion, place, person and the circumstances, for example, Dhamma talks, Dhamma discussion, Dhamma presentation through the television, radio, article and meditation including the exposition in terms of persons and ideas. Dhamma preaching has been demonstrated as the following forms viz. preaching in religious ceremony, occasional preaching, Vessantara Chataka preaching and Samakki preaching. Further, the propagation of Buddhism had been generated through the online mediums as well.
The role of the monks in Pakse, Champasak municipality was represented as the preacher, disseminator, good conductor as well as the respectable and sublime monk that correspond exactly to the original goal in propagation of Buddhism. The Buddhist monks have paved the basic concepts in spreading out Buddhism widely for the happiness of the people in Pakse and other areas in accordance with maintaining and developing Buddhism and the nation. In addition, the administrative monks were the absolute disseminator due to their excellence in Buddhism both of the teachings and practicing. The abbot’s duties were to educating, training and instructing the Buddhist monks and layman on the Buddha’s teachings while the Buddhist monks’ duty was to preach and instruct the people in order to cultivating them the faithfulness in Buddhism.
It has been found that the roles of the monks in propagation of Buddhism in Pakse were not only teaching the Buddhist principles but also integrating and applying the roles in the various forms. The Buddhist monks’ roles found under the study were: Dhamma teaching, supporting the textual, practical and attainable aspect of the true doctrine, developing the moral and ethics to the society, social welfare, environment conservation, maintaining the culture, tradition, custom, arts, supporting the education, encouraging the stability of the nation, the spiritual leadership, promoting the quality of life in community, the treatment of any disease, strengthening the society, criminal protection, political advisory, encouraging the right livelihood, social servicing and strengthening the unity in community.
Download
|
