Abstract:
The research on A Study of Concept and Principle in Disseminating
Buddhism of Thai Buddhist Missionary Monks in the United States of America is a
survey research with the objective in spreading the concept in disseminating
Buddhism from Tipitaka, studying the concept, goal and the way of disseminating
Buddhism of the Thai Buddhist missionary monks in the United States of America,
including the study of problem and obstacle in disseminating Buddhism. For
collecting data, the researchers use the questionnaire and interview in collecting
data from the people such as a group of administrators of the project of overseas
Thai missionary monks, consisting of the General Assembly of the Thai monks, the
office responsible for training the Thai missionary monks and from 100 Thai
missionary monks who are performing their duty and used to perform their duty as
missionary monks in the United States of America. The data collecting has been
done by way of random. The data analysis is used by the mixture of both
quantitative and qualitative research.
The result of research is found as follows:
1. Concept, method and goal of disseminating Buddhism of the missionary
monks are based on the principle of the Buddhas teachings, preaching Dhamma
suitable for the time and place, reasonability, preaching Dhamma with loving
kindness, focusing on providing benefit to the listeners. Preaching Dhamma is neither
because of desiring the offerings nor preaching Dhamma by the swagger. The
objectives of disseminating Buddhism of overseas Thai missionary monks are for the
benefit, support, happiness of the people who are Buddhists and non-Buddhists ,
focusing on developing the efficiency of the people in living their own life, using the
principle and the teachings of the Buddha as the guideline for the others by not
performing the carelessness in their life, being the center of hearts and the activities
of Buddhist people in the United States of America in relation to the dissemination
i.e., dissemination of Buddhism in their own place by organizing the activity in the
temple such as activity in practicing meditation on the important days of Buddhism
and the nation, Dhamma preaching, speech delivering, article writing, and premises
arranging for religious ritual etc. and dissemination of Buddhism outside the temple
such as Dhamma preaching in the educational institute, public and private agency
located outside the temple, using communication technology, radio and television or
organizing the activity concerning the Thai culture at the meeting buildings etc.,
dissemination of Buddhism by using network i.e., organizing the academic activity,
exchanging the way of practice in organizing the activity, forwarding the activity that is
jointly useful for the temple or the agency concerned, making Buddhist network of
lay people and the Sangha inside the affiliation and outside the affiliation of the
General Assembly of the Thai Sangha.
2. The problem and obstacle of the dissemination of Buddhism in the
United States of America are because some Buddhist missionary monks have less
skills of English language and culture causing the problem in communicating with the
people of this country and the Sangha Organization responsible for taking care of
the Buddhist missionary monks is not strong enough causing that the support and
supervision are not thorough. Even though at present time, there are many
agencies responsible directly for supervision but not covered thoroughly such as theControlling and Supervising Center for the Overseas Missionary Monks and the
Buddhist Missionary Monks Training Office are working in the different way. When the
Buddhist missionary monks have been trained, the selection of monks for going
abroad is the duty of another office. When having passed the consideration criteria
the missionary monks have to pass the process of passport and visa entry
requirement that has to be waited for a long time and the permission for staying in
the USA. is very short, bringing about the disconnection in disseminating Buddhism.
3. There should be the way in solving the problem in disseminating
Buddhism of the missionary monks in the United Stated of America by exchanging
knowledge on management and administration for the persons concerned at every
level. Also, there should be the establishment of institute or missionary monks
college for developing the personnel relating to the dissemination of Buddhism in
foreign countries. The executive committees for the missionary monks affaires should
be established and empowered from the Mahathera Association to enable them to
supervise the selection of sending the missionary monks to work and perform the
duty in foreign countries, and paying attention to the welfares, health, travelling for
propagation, consideration of laurel and punishment measure. On the one hand,
there should be the personnel and budget to support this work adequately