“BUDDHIST SAND BOX” THE DEVELOPMENT OF INNOVATION AREAS AND BUDDHIST EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY

Abstract

This research aims to 1) study the knowledge, innovation and technology of Buddhist education, 2) develop the “Buddhist Sand Box”, an innovation and technology area of Buddhist education, and 3) establish the “Buddhist Sand Box” network, an innovation and technology area of Buddhist education. Qualitative research and action research were conducted. The key informants were the group of educational institution administrators, the group of experts in the area of innovation and technology of Buddhist education, and the group of students, totaling 15 persons, and the undergraduate students of the Faculty of Education of Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University, Central Campus, in the academic year 2023, totaling 382 persons. Focus group discussions with 13 qualified persons and research instruments were interview forms, questionnaires, and focus group discussion forms. The research results found that 1) Knowledge, innovation and technology of Buddhist education was a source of learning about the educational innovation area that had received budget support from the Ministry of Education to push for it to be an educational innovation area to promote students’ learning abilities. Innovations about technology related to Buddhist religious ceremonies had not found any relevant data from the field study. Innovations about Buddhist activities were linked to the education of novices. The educational institution provided opportunities for novices to study at the secondary level with general students. The Sangha leader supported this education together with the school, which was a highlight of the educational institution in providing opportunities for novices and youth to learn together as good friends. 2) Development of “Buddhist Sand Box”, an innovation and technology area of Buddhist education in the development of “Buddhist Sand Box”, an innovation and technology area of Buddhist education. The researchers developed the “Buddhist Sand Box” area, an innovation and technology area for Buddhist education. It was a center for creating innovations and technologies for Buddhist education in 5 issues: (1) The background of religious ceremonies, (2) The components of religious ceremonies, including rituals, ceremonies, and masters of ceremonies, (3) The process of performing religious ceremonies, which is 3 steps: the beginning, the middle, and the end, (4) The ceremonial texts in 4 categories: Category 1: Merit category, including words professing one’s status as a Buddhist, and candlelight processions on important Buddhist days; Category 2: Merit category, including words paying homage to the Triple Gem, words requesting the Five Precepts, words requesting the Paritta, words requesting the Dharma, words offering rice to the Buddha, words bidding farewell to rice to the Buddha, words offering alms to the Sangha, and words paying respects to the Triple Gem; Category 3: Offering ceremonial words, including words offering ordinary Sangha offerings, words offering lottery-style food offerings, words offering Vassikasadok or rain-bathing cloth, and words offering “Phapa”, offering of alms to the deceased and category 4: Miscellaneous ceremonies, including offerings to monks, water pouring verses (chanted by monks) (5) Religious Ceremony Application, which was an application developed to collect necessary religious ceremonies in important Buddhist ceremonies in all 4 categories, along with chanting sounds so that students could apply them to be religious ceremonies in performing religious ceremonies correctly and appropriately according to the time and place, and could coordinate, control, and supervise ceremonies effectively. The evaluation results of undergraduate students’ opinions on the development of “Buddhist Sand Box”, an innovation and technology area for Buddhist education, in 5 aspects were at a high level. 3) Establishing a network of “Buddhist Sand Box”, an innovation and technology area for Buddhist education, in 3 places: (1) Ayutthaya Wittayalai School, (2) Wat Chan School (Phasai Pracha Uthit), and (3) Wat Bang Khan Community School. The network creation process included coordinating the network to be aware of the necessity of establishing a network of “Buddhist Sand Box”, an innovation and technology area for Buddhist education, contacting schools that would join the network after mutual decision-making, and creating a joint commitment. By inviting speakers on Buddhist educational innovation and technology to share and increase knowledge with students, and developing mutual relationships, the research team visited the area to develop relationships with administrators, teachers and students in creating networks continuously and doing activities together. In this step, the research team organized Buddhist educational innovation and technology activities with network schools.