Buddhist contemplative education process, to develop sustainable communities.

Abstract

The objectives of research were to study of Buddhists Contemplative Education in the location of Wang Hin subdistrict Ban Rai District in Uthai Thani province. The aims of this research were build the knowledge of Truth, Beauty, Mindfulness, and Sustainable peace of Life, and to be the role model of community in Thailand. This research was Mixed Method Research, This research used both quantitative method and qualitative method. The research population were people in the community of Wang Hin subdistrict, Ban Rai District in Uthai Thani province. This research used simple random sampling to collect research data. First phase of research was quantitative on 362 people. Second phase was contemplative education workshop on 150 people. The collected of 300 questionnaires in the first phase was 82.87 per cent of the population, and 150 sets of questionnaires were collected in the second phase. The Qualitative part of research collected by in dapth interview, group discussion and observation from 10 significant informants, which were workshop attendants, local community monks and community leaders. According to the study of Bhuddhist Contemplative Education, by the dialogue which was the method of contemplative education, it was found that in the level of household and community as a whole, 1) there was very little understanding of sila, samadhi, panna, five aggregates (khandhas), 8 worldly conditions(Loka-Dhamma) and 4 noble truth. 2) The Workshop about the practice of meditation for relaxation and for well-being of mind and body, Bhuddhist Agriculture, and social volunteer, most of attendant & agreed with the purpose of workshop and maintained the 5 Silas, willingly donation, pray daily, practice meditation daily, and keep out of all the vices. Furthermore, they agreed to the Bhuddhist’s Noble Eightfold Path which were Right view (sammā-ditthi), Right resolve (sammā sankappa), Right speech (sammā-vācā), Right action (sammā-kammanta), Right livelihood (sammā-ājīva), Right effort sammā-vāyāma), Right mindfulness(sammā-sati), Samadhi (sammā-samādhi) 3) The interview found that the practice of contemplative education was the understanding of mind of the spirit of being human. We had to improve our mind, think for the sake of others, had empathy and practice continuously. This was to create knowledge, goodness, virtue, truth yielding wisdom and sustainable peace of life.