Role of Abbot in Ecclesiastical Affairs Administration in Chulabhorn District, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province

Abstract

The objectives of this research paper were as follows: 1) to study the role of the abbot in the ecclesiastical affairs administration in Chulabhorn District, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, 2) to analyze problems, obstacles, and guidelines for developing the role of the abbot in the ecclesiastical affairs administration in Chulabhorn District, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province. The researcher used a mixed research method: quantitative and qualitative research. The quantitative research consisted of 160 monks under the ecclesiastical jurisdiction in Chulabhorn District, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province. The qualitative research consisted of in-depth interviews with five Buddhist monks as key informants. Quantitative data were analyzed using ready-made programs. Statistics included percentages, means, and standard deviations. Qualitative data were analyzed using descriptive and contextual analysis.

The results showed that: 1. The role of the abbot in the ecclesiastical affairs administration in Chulabhorn District, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province was overall at a high level. When considering each aspect in descending order, it was found that governance was at the highest level, followed by religious education and public welfare with the lowest average. 2. The results of recommendations found that the problem and obstacle in religious education was that monks and novices were not interested in education as they should be. However, most monks and novices had various duties at the temple and therefore did not have time to read books fully. Governance solutions included explaining the rules and regulations of the temple to new monks, cultivating a sense of unity, care from senior monks, praying, meditation, and performing duties according to the Dharma and Discipline as much as possible