Abstract:
Objectives of this research were: 1. To study the general condition of ethnic groups well-being promotion of monks in Ratchaburi Province, 2. To study the development process of ethnic groups wellbeing according to Tisikkh principles of monks in Ratchaburi Province and 3. To propose the model of promoting well-being of ethnic groups of monks in Ratchaburi Province.
Methodology was the qualitative method, data were collected from monks with outstanding achievements in promoting ethnic groups well-being in Ratchaburi Province, leaders of ethnic communities in Ratchaburi, personnel of government agencies whose mission involved with promoting ethnic groups well-being, religious scholars and cultural scholars, and Buddhist management scholars by selecting a specific model based on the representation characteristics of the appropriate group of 33 persons. Data were also collected from 25 key informants with structured in-depth- interview script with Scale Validity Index (S-CVI) of 1.00 as a tool for data collection and analyzed by contextual content analysis techniques. Data were also collected from 8 participants, who were experts in focus group discussion and analyzed by contextual content analysis techniques.
The findings of this research were as follows:
1. The general condition of promoting ethnic groups well-being promotion of monks in Ratchaburi Province was found that: Strengths; most of monks who lived in the area or had been in the area for a long time, so they knew and realized the health problems of the ethnic community very well, etc. Weaknesses: some monks still lacked knowledge about well-being according to modern medical and public health principles, etc. Opportunities: people with same ethnic group had great unity, etc., and Threats; the way of new generations life in ethnic communities relied on external factors that destroyed well-being, etc.
2. The development processes of people of ethnic groups according to Tisikkh principles of monks in Ratchaburi Province were found that as for Sil , monks had implemented the 5 precepts observing village project and the health promotion monastery project that supported the promotion of well-being for the people that covered physical, mental, social and intellectual development etc. In terms of Sam dhi, monks encouraged people to control their emotions in their lives in accordance with the principles of mental well-being, etc. and Paññ , monks had trained people in Vipassan meditation by aiming to raise their intellectual level to serve as the core course for the development of holistic health, etc.
3. The model of the promoting ethnic groups well-being promotion of monks in Ratchaburi Province was found that it was a model of action to solve the ethnic groups health problems by using strengths to drive opportunities, using opportunities to mitigate weaknesses, using strengths to overcome threats and fix weaknesses while avoiding threats by covering health promotion in four aspects which were physical health, including assistance to bedridden patients, the handicapped, the elderly and the poor in the area with essential basic consumable commodities etc. Mental health aspect, it included healing the minds of suffering people through appropriate Buddhist teachings, etc. Social health aspect, it included the organization of social activities that enhanced good relationships between family members and communities, etc. Intellectual health aspect included the development of the monasteries to be the places for training in Vipassan meditation for children and youth to enhance their intellectual characteristics, etc.