The Asoka Life Approach and Economic Security: A Case Study of Ratchathani Asoka Community of Tambon Bungmai, Ampher Warinchamrap Ubon Ratchathani Province

Abstract

The research aimed to study the principles and concepts of Asoka-life approach, Buddhist philosophy of sufficiency and economic security of Ratchathani Asoka Community; to explore the way to create an economic security for the community in the study and to examine the methods to
administer risks and economic uncertainties of the community amid the crises caused by global warming. The area of the case study was the village known as Booniyomratchathani Asoka of Boongmai in Warinchamrap of Ubon
Ratchathani province. The research methodology was a qualitative one. The research instruments were an in-depth, observation and relevant documents. The research findings were as follows. 1. The community known as ‘Ratchathani Asoka’ was intended to be an economic model for the modern community based on the Buddhist doctrine. The community was developed from the philosophy of sufficiency concerning self-reliance and economic stability. 2. Practically, the community depended on the stability of life by
creating various activities covering several dimensions ranging from food production and nutrition, social welfare, environment, energy, education, health and sanitation to social networks. According to the guidelines of
Ratchathani Asoka, for the community to be stable, it was important to
emphasize the sufficiency life and stability in rural areas. 3. Asoka-life approach can be a crucial foundation to build an immunity for the communities. As the world is fast changing, more problems are likely to emerge. It is necessary to have risk-management system to ensure the social stability. Besides, the key instrument for the new local system called, ‘the system of risk management for an economic endurance’ and the community in the study is required to design the system by themselves.