A Competency of the Temple Abbots for Administration of Community and Temple in Mae Rim District, Chiang Province: A Case Study

Abstract

The objective of the paper is 1) Exploring the learning process in managing temples. 2) communities of monks, in addition to the management competencies of monks. This is a mixed-methods study including 83 monks from the Mae Rim District. The community adopted a simple random sampling technique to select five samples, which involved conducting in-depth interviews and coordinating a setting for the exchange of knowledge. The data was analyzed using content analysis.

The research findings showed that 1) the Sangha-thikarnsí learning process for managing the temple and community found that most Sangha-thikarns learned about this method in terms of guidelines. The learning designs, including Dhamma principles and subjects, was obtained from the previous abbot according to the maturity, absorbed and served through practical work, discipline, and monksí practices in temple and community. 2) Competency in temple and community management of the Sangha-thikarns at a hight level. It contains the following components: 1. Pariya-dharma, also referred to as dharma study, entails understanding dharma principles appropriate to the Sangha-thikarns of temples and communities, as well as expertise in temple and community management. 2. Pathibat-dharma or dharma practice comprising skills in communication or Dharma transfer to people as well as competency in coordination and use of media or technology; and 3. Pilivedhamma or the result of practicing the use of Dhamma comprising appropriate manners.  Hence, all of these should be developed among new monk generations to be ready to be good Sanga administrators in the future.