The aims of this research were: 1) to study the principles of Kalayanamitta-dhamma (kalyānamitta-dhamma, qualities of a good friend) in Buddhism; 2) to study the conditions of the students majoring in social studies at Surindra Rajabhat University; 3) to study the ways to promote the principles of Kalayanamitta-dhammas to the students in Bachelor of Education Program at Surindra Rajabhat University. This study was the qualitative research carried out by using the following research tools: in-depth interview of the target groups, including 50 of the administrators, lecturers, monks and students in the program. The gathered data were analyzed by the descriptive analysis and the research results were as follows:
The studentsin the Bachelor of Education in Social Studies of Surindra Rajabhat Universityhave studied according to the curriculum, have been taught in various ways, have intellectual skills in critical thinking,interpersonal skills and responsibilities, numerical analysis skills, communication and information technology skills that are consistent with modern education.
Kalayanamitta-dhammas in Buddhism is to strengthen seven elements of Kalayanamitta dhammas: to be lovable, to be respected by the general public,to have knowledge and experience,to have true wisdom, to be capable ofspeaking and clarifyingthings to others to understand easily,to have patience with others’ speech, to be capable of profoundly telling stories and not to induce the others in the wrong ways. At the same time, the Kalayanamitta-dhammas must consist of 8qualities, including faith, hearing, physical, verbal and mental calm, sacrifice, perseverance, consciousness, concentration, and wisdom used as the tools to develop the students as a perfect person.Organizing student activities also create many benefits for society and the nation. Student activities therefore are very important to both students in higher education institutions and the country.
The guidelines for enhancing the Kalayanamitta principle for students in the Bachelor of Education Program involved to help each other is only an external element. The important is the internal elementthat the studentsmust be full of virtue within the mind which is ready to give to others by inducing faith, respect, admiration and appreciation.When faith arises, the mind will embrace all things making it able to guide ideas, attitudes, values, knowledge and correctly understanding of stories, which is called the right view (sammāditṭhi). Therefore,Kalayanamitta principle is influential to the mind in raising faith and conversely, if there is no faith, it will not be impressive. The important thing is that faith must consist of wisdom.
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