Abstract:
This research is of four objectives: 1) to investigate the practical guidelines
for applying Buddhist principles in increasing Buddhist agricultural income that are
suitable for ethnic groups on the highland run by the Buddhist Monk Developer
Network, 2) to follow up the operation of the problem solving in agriculture of
highland of highland ethnic groups in the prototype area of Wiang Pa Pao District, Mae
Suai District Muang District in Chiang Rai Province, 3) to analyze the practical way of
the Buddhist Monk Developer Network and the process of increasing the income of
the ethnic group in the prototype area and 4) to synthesize the knowledge of the
prototype area to increase the income of the Buddhist way agricultural of the
highlander ethnic group. Collection of data in the area was done by using the in-depth
interview with the group of volunteer graduated monks and community leaders in the
three districts: Wiang Pa Pao District, Mae Suai District and Muang District in Chiang Rai
Province.
1.The results revealed that there were 7 Buddhist monasteries of volunteer
graduated monks and 7 community leaders totally 14 persons have applied the
Buddhist principles for increasing their income of Buddhist agricultural way. They have
applied and practiced the Buddhist principles as Khanti: patience, Sati: mindfulness,
Sacca: truth, Samaggi: concord, Iddhipada or the Four Paths of Accomplishment,
Brahmavihara: sublime states of mind, Sangahavatthu: bases of social solidarity,
Ariyasacca: The Four Noble Truths and Sappurisa-dhamma: qualities of a good man.
2. From monitoring the implementation of the problem solving in agriculture
of highland ethnic groups, it was found that They lack many supporting factors such
as knowledge on the Buddhism based-agriculture, how to make organic fertilizer, plants
in cultivation, budget to support in agriculture and more importantly, they believe that
the transition to organic fertilizers will result in reduced yields, slow-growing and
unhealthy crops. However, the Highland Buddhist Monk Developer have solved the
following problems: 1) provided knowledge on the Buddhist agriculture and organic
fertilizer, 2) finding economic crops for cultivation to suit the soil, 3) recruiting budgets
from government and private agencies, 4) providing knowledge on the benefits and
disadvantage of using chemical fertilizer and organic fertilizers, 5) requesting
cooperation from people in the community to comply with forest regulations in the
use of arable land, forest and watershed conservation areas, 6) Funding for the supply
of water tanks.
3. The process of increasing the income of the Buddhist way of agriculture
in the highland ethnic groups in three the prototype areas - Wiang Pa Pao, Mae Suai
and Muang in Chiang Rai province, Buddhist monk developer have undertaken various
aspects, namely promoting agricultural knowledge, promoting morality, promoting
career, promoting people in the community to develop themselves, promoting the
maintenance of natural resources and the environment.
4. In addition, the knowledge gained in the model area on an increasing
income process of Buddhist way agriculture, it was found that the Buddhist monk
developer need develop their own potential in seeking knowledge and working
processes in order to create income for the community on the highland to live based
on the "Middle Way', know how to consume and use objects with modesty. In the
end, they should teach the highlanders to learn about giving and sharing, and these
will lead to a truly happiness.
Keywords: Agriculture, Network, Development, Buddhist way of agriculture