Abstract:
The purposes of this research were 1) to study the leadership concepts according to the western theory and Theravada Buddhism, 2) to study the concept of Parami in Theravada Buddhism, and 3) to present the model of the leadership development based on Dasaparami in Theravada Buddhism. The data were collectedfromTipitaka, commentaries, academic materials and other relatedresearches. They were analyzed synthesized and explained in the form of descriptive presentation. The results of this research were concluded as follows:
The concept of the western leadership theory mostly focused on upgrading the leadership development to be accepted in the world level, such as the 5-levels of leadership according to John C. Maxwell, who tried to present the principle of the leadership development in order to be more effective and absolutely understood as the principle of the leadership development. This was called the perfect leveledleadership which was shown under the 5-development levels in gradually increased scalewith the highly accepted aim, consisting of the level of position,permission, production,people development, and pinnacle.
The leadership in Theravada Buddhism means that the leader has to have internal and external qualifications. He/Shemust haveskillful vision, good disposition, trustfulness, and graceful personality. He/She alsomust know how to bring Dhamma principles to integrate appropriately, consisting of the Three Adhipateyya or the three supremacies, the Four Brahmavihara or the four noble sentiments, the Four Sangahavatthu or the four objects of sympathy, and the Five Bala or the five powers.Other supporting Dhamma principles consist of the SixSaraniyadhamma or the six virtues for fraternal living, the Seven Aparihaniyadhammaor the seven conditions of welfare, the Seven Suppurisadhamma or the seven virtues of a gentleman. The highest goal was to eliminate lust for Nivarna or enlightenment.
Parami or perfection means the supreme practice, that is, the practice of Bodhisattva or Buddhist deity, who waits for Buddhas enlightenment. Paramita also means the excellence, that is, the individual excellence which is not exactly in Buddhism. Later, it was used so much in Buddhism until it changed into the excellence of Dhamma practice. It was finally pointed that the Paramita means the most excellence of Dhamma practice, which is the extinction of the intoxicated desires. However, this meaning was not used very often. There are ten perfections consisting of Danaparamita or perfection with giving, Silaparamita or perfection with morality, Nekkhammaparamita or perfection with renunciation, Pannaparamita or perfection with wisdom, Virayaparamita or perfection with effort, Khantiparamita or perfection with endurance, Saccaparamita or perfection with truthfulness, Athithanaparamita or perfection with self-determination, Mettaparamita or perfection with loving-kindness, and Upekkhaparamita or perfection with equanimity. There are three levels of Parami, comprising of the ordinary perfection called Paramita, the superior perfection called Upaparamita, and supreme perfection called Paramathaparamita. They are different in practice, such as giving alms referred asDanaparami, giving self-organs referred asDanaupaparami, and giving ones life referred asDanaparamathaparami.
In this research, the model of the leadership development was presented with 10 perfections in Theravada Buddhism, summarized as follows:
1) The model of the leadership development consisting of self-leading with Silaparami, Saccaparami, Nekkhamaparami, andViriyaparami.
2) The model of the leadership development consisting of people leading with Danaparami, Mettaparami, and Upekkhaparami, and
3) The model of the leadership development consisting of work leading with Pannaparami, Viriyaparami, and Athithanaparami.