Abstract:
This research is the qualitative research and its purposes are; 1) to study the principle of donation in Theravada Buddhism 2) to study of the Buddhists donation in Maung District, Udonthani Province and 3) to analyze the donation in order to enhance the Buddhist s harmony in Maung District, Udonthani Province. From observation and interviewing the key informants and the results of research are found that:
1) The donation can be divided into two types, that is, (1) : the donation of requisites, namely to give the material and to give the appropriate things to others for the benefits of them and to sacrifice ones own things for the sake of others benefits (2) : to give Dhamma such as to teach the others to practice Dhamma or to talk about Dhamma in order to give the right knowledge , that is, those teachings focusing on the right practice, especially in Buddhism.
2) The Buddhists donation in Maung District, Udonthani Province is in the united mind projects with Dhamma garlands By giving food to the Buddhist monks in the lunch time by consisting of 20temples participating in the projects These activities are 2 donations , namely, by giving necessities to the Buddhist monks and is that the Buddhist monks preach Dhamma in the temples in accordance with the projects of the unite mind with Dhamma garlands by giving food to the Buddhist monks in the lunch time and to participate in creating the harmony and to be sympathized in giving the donation to the great groups of Sangha until creating the harmony from the donation.
3) to donate in order to enhance the Buddhists harmony in Maung District, Udonthani Province is the donation as the systems and the behavior to advice the society to have the guideline of lifestyles in accordance with Buddhism as seen in the important traditions or various festivals leading by the Ecclesiastical District Officers and the Buddhist monks in Maung District. The Buddhists are ready to donate, especially, in the united mind projects with the Dhamma garlands which are the traditions practiced in the duration of the Buddhist Lent by bringing the food to give the Buddhist monks and to be the sponsors in the alms-giving places to help each others, not to think of any temple. That shows the sympathy for each other and results in the harmony and readiness of people and thinking that in this year or next year there will have the increasing temples in this project. That shows that this donation results in the real harmony and leads to peace and the good example of the Buddhists in Udonthani Province.