Abstract:
The objectives of the dissertation entitled The Development of Thai Buddhists In the Present are as follows: 1) to study the development of Thai Buddhists in the present, 2) to study the Buddhist principles supporting the development of Thai Buddhists in the present, 3) to integrate the Buddhist principles in the development of Thai Buddhists in the present, and 4) to propose a guideline on A model for the development of Thai Buddhists in the present with Buddhist principles. The data of this documenary qualitative study were collected by in-depth interviews with 16 experts in Buddhism and by focus group discussions with 6 key-informants. The data were analyzed, synthesyzed and then concluded and presented in a descriptive method. The results of the study were found that: In the present state of Thai Buddhists, some monks and lay-Buddhists lacked of development and performing the true duty of Buddhists. The four areas of Buddhist duty are training, practice, propagating and protecting Buddhism are unsatisfying. Without the realization of Buddhists on these duties, the negative effects may occur to the stability of Buddhism in the long run. The Buddhist principles supporting the development of Thai Buddhists in the present are; 1) Wisdom supports the training, 2) Hiri and Ottatappa support the practice, 3) Sappurisadhamma and Attha supports propagation, and 4) The Eightfold Path and The Four Noble Truths support the protection of Buddhism. There are 3 guidelines in the development of Thai Buddhists in the present; 1) To adjust their attitude to realize the true duty of Buddhists, 2) To lead them perform the Buddhist duty actively and effectively, and 3) To encourage and support them to develop seriously and concretely. The body of knowledge obtained from the study on integrative development of Thai Buddhists with Buddhist principles can be concluded into MAN MODEL.