Temple Administration Skills of the Abbot

Abstract

This academic article aims to present the temple management skills of the abbots; it was found that the management skills are important and necessary to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of the administration of the Sangha within the temple in 6 aspects: administration, education, propagation, educational assistance, public assistance, and public utilities, which the abbots are considered to be the ones who are directly involved and responsible for the administration of the temple. In Buddhism, the Buddha spoke of the principles of Pāpaṇikadhamma or the principles of successful temple administration, which consist of: having a good vision, knowing how to plan, because planning is the main and important work in the administration of the temple for the benefit of the entire Sangha; good management, which is the management of people with knowledge and ability to be consistent with the duties and responsibilities that truly match the ability to manage that matter, and having human relations, which is an important skill that helps the administration succeed; unity of all stakeholders, and to create participation, participation should be created on the basis of Saṅgahavatthu, which is the principle of winning hearts to lead to smooth operations, consisting of: being kind, speaking politely, helping people, and behaving appropriately, which will make the administration within the temple truly stable and sustainable in the administrative dimension.