The Development of the Potential of the Layman Missionaries in the Buddhism Propagation in the Foreign Countries

Abstract

 The Buddhism propagation in foreign countries began with Thai people who work and live in foreign countries, have faith in Buddhism and need psychological reliance, propagating the Buddhism and inviting the monks from Thailand to propagate Buddhism in the country. As Buddhists in foreign countries behave according to the principles of Buddhism and play an important role in the Buddhism propagation, they are called  "Layman Missionaries". The monks would achieve their duty as missionaries to propagate Buddhism in foreign countries from the past to the present with the help from Buddhists laymen to provide support and cares. In addition, the monks are not able to propagate the Buddhism efficiently without supports of the laymen. When the laymen develop their potential as layman missionaries, and disseminate the teachings to their intimates for the best understanding. Especially for foreigners, layman missionaries have an important role to help communicate to make local people understand Buddhism more easily, which results in the better propagation of Buddhism in foreign countries. This article presents the development of the potential of the propagation, the history of the layman missionaries in the propagation, layman and the propagation and the development of the potential of the layman missionaries in the Buddhism propagation in foreign countries.