Abstract:
The objectives of this research were 1) to study the processes of communicating Dharma, 2) to study the strategies of communicating Dharma, 3) to study the knowledge, attitude, and satisfaction of the participants in the Dharma Camp and the Center of Learning Buddhism. This research is based on qualitative research methodology, using participatory observation, in-depth interview, focus group interview of the 36 trainers and trainees, and it is also based on quantitative methodology by using a questionnaire to collect data from a sample of 309 students attending the Dharma Camp. It was found that, 1) The characteristics of the process of communicating Dharma is considered to include large group communication, one-way and two-way communication, participatory communication, and semi-formal communication. The elements of effective communication include (i) senders have both secular and religious knowledge. They have the ability to communicate well, extensive experience in training, a highly-reliable personality, and friendliness. (ii) There are both theoretical and practical contents of the training, which was divided into three sectors, namely entertaining activities (entertainment), learning Dharma (knowledge), and peaceful practice (peace). (iii) The method of training is to combine a variety of media, including personal media, natural media, electronic media, print media, modern technology media, material or object media, image and animation media, audiovisual media, and music and sound media. (iv) The receivers are children or youths. 2) The strategies for communicating Dharma is to use techniques or a combination of a variety of communication methods including (i) the strategies of Buddhist missionaries. (ii) the communication strategy of verbal language as follows: speaking verse, speaking quotes from important persons, speaking puns, speaking to make listeners repeat, pausing to make listeners speak, speaking dialect, speaking the slang language of teenagers, speaking foreign languages, speaking metaphors, speaking in a friendly way, speaking about the trends of society, speaking from experience, telling a yarn or Jataka, and speaking questions and answers. (iii) The strategy of nonverbal communication to complement verbal language (iv) Media strategies integrated into the training activities. (v) Communication strategies for persuasion and psychological communication include the use of incentive, analysis of trends in the audience, persuasive speaking, creating an emotional message, using the psychology of children and making them participate, making them interact, and giving rewards and punishments. 3) From the knowledge, attitude, and satisfaction of the 309 trainees who participated in the Dharma Camp training, it was found that the understanding of Buddhism of the trainees increased. The trainees attitude toward communication and the strategic communication process was good. All were extremely happy to participate in this Dharma Camp.