The Integration of the Four Saṅgahavatthu in Agriculture According to the Agricultural Concept, A New Theory of Farmers in Ban Nong Saeng, Nong Saeng Subdistrict, Ban Haed District, Khon Kaen Province

Abstract

            This research has the objectives: 1) to study the Four Saṅgahavatthu in the Buddhist scriptures; 2) to study the working conditions of agriculture according to the new agricultural concept of farmers in Ban Nong Saeng, Nong Saeng Subdistrict, Ban Haed District, Khon Kaen Province  and 3) to study the integration of the Four Saṅgahavatthu principles in farming according to the new agricultural concept of farmers in Ban Nong Saeng, Nong Saeng Subdistrict, Ban Haed District, Khon Kaen Province. It is qualitative research, collecting document data and conducting in-depth interviews with 25 key informants, analyzing the content using descriptive analysis methods.
           The research results are as follows:
           The Four Saṅgahavatthu in the Buddhist scriptures are: Dāna (Giving) - the act of sacrificing and sharing seeds in production; Piyavācā - coordination and communication to build friendship with the network; Atthacariyā - the act of helping and supporting one another to maximize benefits for both oneself and society; and Samanattatā - conducting oneself regularly in farming together or working together with other people.

Conditions of farming according to the new agricultural concept of farmers in Ban Nong Saeng, Nong Saeng Subdistrict, Ban Haed District, Khon Kaen Province include: servicing the area to balance the needs for planting, establishing community welfare of Ban Nong Saeng farmers as a community process that guarantees the security of people in the community, focusing on management to create self-reliance in capital resources, helping each other as friends, participating in management, living together happily, and ensuring fairness and equality.
           Integration of the Four Saṅgahavatthu in agriculture according to the new theory of agriculture among the farmers of Ban Nong Saeng, Nong Saeng Subdistrict, Ban Haed District, Khon Kaen Province involves: integrating the Four Saṅgahavatthu in farming according to the new agricultural theory concept, where Dāna is helping each other in matters of materials or resources in the community and network; Piyavācā is coordination and communication for community production; Atthacariyā is the creation of products that focus on the safety of oneself and society; and Samanattatā is the creation of agricultural enterprises for joint production and delivery of products to the market.