Abstract:
The objectives of this qualitative research were: 1) to study the admististrative problems of the Dhamma Practice Office at Tha Phong Temple; 2) to study the administration of Dhamma practice office model including the Dhamma Practice Office at Sriburi Rattanaram Temple in Pak Phriao Subdistrict, Mueang Saraburi District, and the Dhamma Practice Office at Makham Reang Temple in Phai Khwang Subdistrict, Ban Mo District, Saraburi Province; and 3) to study the guidelines for the development of the Dhamma Practice Office at Tha Phong Temple in Takut Sub-district, Mueang District, Saraburi Province. The population and sample groups were: 1) two abbot assistances; 2) one abbot; and 3) two-hundred persons who came to practice Dhamma at Tha Phong Temple. Data were collected through interviews and focused-group discussions. The study was divided into 4 stages. The first stage was a study of the administrative problems of the Dhamma Practice Office at Tha Phong Temple. The second stage was an interview with people who came to practice Dhamma at Tha Phong Temples Dhamma Practice Office. The third stage was a study about the administration of the 2 models of Dhamma practice office. The fourth stage was a study about the development guidelines for Tha Phong Temples Dhamma Practice Office. The collected data was analyzed using a descriptive and interpretative method.
The findings of the study are as follows:
1. For the administrative problems, the study showed that there is still a lack of operational budgets and basic facilities at Tha Phong Temples Dhamma Practice Office. In term of lecturers, there is still a lack of coordination on lecturer with other Dhamma practice centers. Regarding to the opinion of activities of Tha Phong Temples Dhamma Practice Center, it was found that the overall opinion is at a low level (x̅ = 2.46 ; S.D. =0.25), sorted from the average score from highest to lowest as follows: the management of Dhamma practice courses (moderate level), the administration of Dhamma Practice Office (low level), the lecturers (a low level), the place (low level), respectively.
2. Owing to the study of the Dhamma practice office models, the study revealed that Saraburi Provincial Dhamma Practice Office 4 at Makham Reang Temple is a role model in administration in terms of managing, providing knowledgeable and expertise lectures as well as concrete practice in selecting persons to become monks and novices.
3. The guidelines for the development of the Dhamma Practice Center at Tha Phong Temple consist of 3 areas: location development : lecturer development, and administration development.