The Ordination of trees in the buddhist way of Dong Yai community forest to the community ways of life of Sang Tor Noi sub district in Hua Taphan district Amnat Charoen
Abstract:
The objectives of this qualitative research were: 1) to study the communitys way of life in 13 villages located around Dong-Yai community forest in terms of society, economy, culture, and the relationship of community and forest; 2) to study the tree ordination in the Buddhist way of Dong-Yai community forest at Sang-Tor-Noi sub-district in Hua Taphan district, Amnat Charoen province; and 3) to study the process of tree ordination and its application to the communitys way of life as a foundation of a sustainable development in the area of Sang-Tor-Noi sub-district in Hua Taphan district, Amnat Charben province. Data were collected through observation, interview, and focused-group discussion. The collected data were interpreted to form a conclusion.
The study found that:
1. There is a connection in terms of society, economy, culture, and the relationship of community and forest among the 13 villages located around Dong-Yai community forest in Sang-Tor-Noi sub-district. This connection forms a village community around Dong-Yai community forest. The Dong-Yai community forest has a wide variety of plant genetics which is plenty in terms of natural food and herbs for community. Further, there is also the local wisdom related to the tree ordination ceremony in each forest zone nearby each village which is circulatory arranged as the annual tradition. The tree ordination ceremony is in accord with the environmental strategy of the local administrative organization where the Arts and Crafts Center is a center for technology management and transfer. In addition, there are forest protection volunteers to prevent forest fires in the dry season.
2. The application of tree ordination in the Buddhist way of Dong Yai community forest to the communitys way of life of Sang-Tor-Noi sub-district is based on the faith of Buddhism together with the ethnic notions and beliefs of people according to the way of life. This is expressed through the Buddhist rituals and Brahman beliefs that inherited as the local wisdom from generation to generation.
3. According to the application of tree ordination in the Buddhist way of Dong-Yai community forest as a foundation of a sustainable development, the village community has jointly developed a model for integrated management and conservation of Dong-Yai community forest. The village community realizes the common importance of cultivating a consciousness aimed at Sammaditthi or the right view. The model of Dong Yai community forest conservation is driven at the levels of ideology, principle, and methods to perceive the value of the common use of Dong-Yai community forest. In addition, a career development is also a focus to improve the quality of loft according to the sufficiency economy philosophy aimed at a self-reliance, finally.