Abstract

            The research on A Study of Concept and Principle in Disseminating Buddhism of  Thai Buddhist Missionary Monks in the United States of America is a survey research with the objective in spreading  the concept  in disseminating  Buddhism from Tipitaka, studying the concept, goal and the way of disseminating Buddhism of the Thai Buddhist missionary monks in the United States of America, including  the study of  problem  and  obstacle in disseminating Buddhism.  For collecting data, the researchers use the questionnaire and interview in collecting data from the people such as a group of  administrators of the project of overseas Thai missionary monks, consisting of the General Assembly of theThai monks, the office responsible for training the Thai missionary monks  and from ๑๐๐ Thai missionary monks who are performing their duty and used to perform their duty as missionary monks in the United States of America. The data collecting has been done by way of random. The data analysis is used by the mixture of both quantitative and qualitative research.

The result of research is found as follows:

๑. Concept, method and goal of disseminating Buddhism of the missionary monks are based on the principle of the Buddha’s teachings, preaching Dhamma  suitable for the time and place, reasonability, preaching Dhamma with loving kindness, focusing on providing benefit to the listeners.  Preaching Dhamma is neither because of desiring the offerings nor preaching Dhamma by the swagger. The objectives of disseminating Buddhism of overseas Thai missionary monks are for the benefit, support, happiness of the people who are  Buddhists and non-Buddhists, focusing on developing the efficiency of the people in living their own life, using the principle and the teachings of the Buddha as the guideline for the others by not performing the carelessness in their life, being the center of hearts and the activities of Buddhist people in the United States of America in relation to the dissemination i.e., dissemination of Buddhism in their own place by organizing the activity in the temple  such as activity in practicing meditation on the important days of Buddhism and the nation, Dhamma preaching, speech delivering, article writing, and premises arranging for religious ritual etc. and dissemination of Buddhism outside the temple such as Dhamma preaching in the educational institute, public and private agency located outside the temple, using communication technology, radio and television or organizing the activity concerning the Thai culture at the meeting buildings etc., dissemination of Buddhism by using  network i.e., organizing the academic activity, exchanging the way of practice in organizing the activity, forwarding the activity that is jointly useful for the temple or the agency concerned, making Buddhist network of  lay people and the Sangha inside the affiliation and outside the affiliation of the General Assembly of the  Thai Sangha.    

  ๒. The problem and obstacle of the dissemination of Buddhism in the United States of America are because some Buddhist missionary monks have less skills of English language and culture causing the problem in communicating with the people of this country  and the Sangha Organization responsible for taking care of the  Buddhist missionary monks is not strong enough causing that the support and supervision are not thorough.  Even though at present time, there are many agencies responsible directly for supervision but not covered thoroughly such as the Controlling and Supervising Center for the Overseas Missionary Monks and the Buddhist Missionary Monks Training Office are working in the different way.  When the Buddhist missionary monks have been trained, the selection of monks for going abroad is the duty of another office.  When having passed the consideration criteria the missionary monks have to pass the process of passport and visa entry requirement that has to be waited for a long time and the permission for staying in the USA. is very short, bringing about the disconnection in disseminating Buddhism.

๓. There should be the way in solving the problem in disseminating Buddhism of the missionary monks in the United Stated of America by exchanging knowledge on management and administration for the persons concerned at every level. Also, there should be the establishment of institute or missionary monks college for developing the personnel relating to the dissemination of Buddhism in foreign countries. The executive committees for the missionary monks affaires should be established and empowered from the Mahathera Association to enable them to supervise the selection of sending the missionary monks to work and perform the duty in foreign countries, and paying attention to the welfares, health, travelling for propagation, consideration of  laurel and punishment measure. On the one hand, there should be the personnel and budget to  support this work adequately.