The guidelines for strengthening faith in Thai society

Abstract

This article had 3 objectives: 1) to study the practice of the Thai monks to the disease prevention in the Buddhist Scripture, 2) to study the guidelines for the practice of the monks in the measure of the public health system, and 3) to analyze the guidelines for the practice of the monks in the COVID – 19 Era. This research applied the Qualitative Research with the Documentary Research.

The research results were as follow:

1. The practice of the Thai monks to the disease prevention in the Buddhist Scripture was that in the past, the monks living in the monk’s dwelling alone did not make the problems about the practice. If the monks were ill, they would help in treatment and set the zone obviously. For the disease treatment, the medicine in the Buddhism mentioned that The Buddha was the doctor for the treatment in the body and mind with the Ariyasacca (the four Noble Truth) that was the relationship between the body and mind causing the disease. When the monks were ill, the Buddha used the herbs for the treatment in the time of Buddha. Moreover, the Buddha used the Dhamma for the treatment.


2. The guidelines for the practice of the monks in the measure of the public health system were that the practice of the monks in the COVID – 19 Era divided into 2 items: the practice of the monks in the temple and the practice of the monks out the temple. The practice of the monks out the temple in the new normal time was that (1) wearing the mask all the time, (2) checking the body temperature, (3) registering to contact in finding the people infected with the COVID-19, (4) washing their hands with the soap, water or alcohol gel frequently, (5) no touching their eyes, mouths and noses, and (6) sitting or doing something in the social distancing. When the monks went to the temple, the practice of the monks was that (1) taking off their masks and throwing away in the correct way, (2) washing their hands, and (3) cleaning their bodies and changing their clothes.


3. The analysis of the guidelines for the practice of the monks in the COVID – 19 Era was that (1) For eating, the monks ate alone, (2) for receiving the food offerings, the monks could receive the food offerings regularly, but the monks must protect themselves seriously, (3) for the practice in the ceremony, the monks must do the social distancing at least 2 meters, wear the masks to protect themselves and the others, washing their hands with the alcohol, and vaccinating for the COVID-19 , and (4) the ordination and the annual festivals were not provided.