SOCIAL WORKS’ ROLES IN SAMNAKPATIBATDHAMMA INPLAENG DHAMMASATHANA, PAKO SUB-DISTRICT, MUAENG DISTRICT, NONGKHAI PROVINCE

Abstract

         The objectives of this research article are: 1) to study the concept of socially engaged Buddhism, 2) to study the history of nuns in Thailand, 3) to study the social works’ roles in Samnakpatibatdhamma Inplaeng Dhammasathana, Pako Sub-District, Muaeng District, Nongkhai Province. This research was a quality study using documented analysis and in-depth interviews.
The results of the research were as follows: 1) concept of socially engaged Buddhism was a new concept, it was the application of Buddhism principles to solve social problems. The first monk who started pioneering the concept of socially engaged Buddhism was Thích Nhất Hạnh, a Vietnamese monk who tried to encourage Buddhism to play the full roles in society and this concept was becoming more and more popular all over the world, including Thailand. 2) history of nuns in Thailand had started since the era of Phra Sona and Phra Uttara to propagate Buddhism in Suvarnabhumi, but there was clear evidence in the Ayutthaya period and had been ordained to the present period. Nuns in Thai society had uncertain status as a priest or merely a nun. Therefore they were not yet being accepted by society so much, however, Thai nuns played roles in Thai society in many ways.
3) Samnakpatibatdhamma Inplaeng Dhammasathana is an organization that has a role in serving social works by applying the Buddhist doctrine to help society in a concrete way, such as supporting the good nutrition of the Buddhist organizations, government organizations, and private organizations. For the psychological side is responsible for organizing insight meditation (Vipassana Kammatthana) activities for youth and the general public, both Thai and foreigners.