Abstract:
This dissertation entitled The Analytical Study of Buddhist Integration of National Farmers Council : A Case Study of the Farmers Way of life Found in Thailand has three objectives: 1) to study the problems and development farmers way of life according to national agriculture, 2) to study farmers way of life in Theravada Buddhist scripture, and 3) to study Buddhist integration approach to develop famers way of life according to national agricultural council. This dissertation was purposely written to propose the Buddhist body of knowledge. This is a qualitative research done by studying documentaries and interview of key informants.
In the research, it was found that there are many problems in doing farm, poverty, land for plantation, debt, for instance. Those problems need solution made by government so that farmers quality of life can be stabilized and sustained. Since farmers have been playing the essential role to develop the nation through providing the sustain chain of food and income then the government comes to realize farmers the utmost importance as they see that farmers suffering is the nations suffering, therefore, there are many direct and indirect measurements assigned so as to guarantee farmers firm income and good quality of life including land. At the present, the Act of the national agricultural council of 2553 B.E. was made by the ministry of agriculture and cooperatives in order to guarantee farmers rights and freedom leading to the protection of their production wherein the highest payment is provided. In this respect, many farmers way of life has been changed depending upon social development processes being different from primitive society to modern society.
The farmers history was mentioned that the king was named Khattiya or Kashatriya because of being greatness of all farms. It is believed that farmers culture on doing farm took place since the Buddhas time, the ploughing ceremony, for instance. In Pali language, it is called the royal rite of Vappamongkol etc. Most of Sãkaya family were doing farm as well. They sometime had quarreled one another due to water need for their farm and it appeared that the Buddha came to solve the mentioned conflict by sermonizing those farmers till most of them got the stream-entry. In this story, while addressing monks, the Buddha compared with farmers life such as Khettasutta that farmers have three kinds of duty, ploughing, harrowing in doing rice field and Buddhist monks have also three kinds of duty, observation of precepts etc. The Buddha had advised all human beings to live harmoniously with nature, being friends with nature as was said Sukhã Saṁghassa Sãmaggĩ Na Tassa Sãkhaṁ Bhaójeyya Mittubbho Hi Pãpako; it is translated as while living together with nature, one should not harm even tree branch, then one is named non-harm-friend because of uniqueness giving rise to the happiness.
In the Buddhist integration approach to develop Thai farmers way of life according to the nation agricultural council, it was divided into the following steps: 1) the Dhamma principles should be integrated to develop Thai farmers way of life through three kinds of moderation: 1) farmers should be content with what they have, 2) farmers should be content with their capability, and 3) farmers should be content with what is suitable and sufficient or sufficient economy for them, they should behave moderately in living, eating and utilizing and non-harming anyone, 2) the Dhamma principles should be integrated to develop farmers family through four bases of accomplishment; 1) farmers should be content with their profession as farmers, 2) they should become energetic, 3) they should pay proper attention to what they are doing, 4) they should investigate into the matter properly and four bases of social solidarity; 1) they should possess real intention, 2) their mind should be controlled, 3) they should have patience, 4) they should become generous sharing what they have to other and family, 3) the Dhamma principles should be integrated to develop Thai social farmers through four virtues conducive to the benefits in the present, 1) farmers should become energetic in doing farm, 2) they should protect what they earn, 3) they should associate with good friends, 4) they should live righteously based on what they earn, and they should follow right likelihood principle; it means that they should live their life without violating any social law and morality where Thai society would face certain happiness, 4) the Dhamma principles should be integrated to develop the farmers nation through seven virtues leading never to decline but only to prosperity, 1) they should hold regular meeting, 2) they have meeting together in harmony, 3) more regulations should not be added, 4) the elderly should be honored, 5) women should not be harmed, 6) the suitable places for worshiping should be kept, 7) recluses should be protected, five precepts, 1) farmers should not kill living being, 2) they should not take what is not given, 3) they should commit adultery, 4) they should not speak lie, and 5) they should not take intoxicant and alcohol. Once farmers properly observe the aforesaid precepts then their life will firm and prosperous by oneself, family, society and the nation as a whole respectively.