A COMMUNITY OF UNITY: THAI BUDDHIST MISSIONARIES’ ROLE IN CREATING SOCIAL INTEGRITY IN SWEDEN

Abstract

The fact that Thais have migrated to live overseas has gained attention as a social phenomenon which has been studied in different aspects and in many ways.  This study pays particular attention to the Buddhist missionaries’ role in creating social integrity to the Thai community in Sweden.  Its objectives are to 1) study the characteristics of Thai monks who are on a religious mission abroad; 2) analyze their role in unifying the Thai community in Sweden;3) analyze the guidelines for developing the role of Thai monks who are on a religious mission in Sweden.  To understand the role of the monks, this quality research was conducted by employing a semi-structured interviewing technique, questioning fifteen informants who are monks and laymen. After gaining all the information needed, the researcher analyzed it with the use of content analysis.

          The research outcomes show that the Thai Buddhist missionaries in Sweden have played an important role in creating social integrity in the Thai community in Sweden through the characteristic of overseas Buddhist missionaries who aim to propagate Buddhist Teachings and in their practice of the Buddhist way of life, thus contributing to the emergence of their three major roles; namely, 1) serving as pegs that secure the network of Thais in Sweden; 2) mobilizing resources for organizing religious activities; and 3) coordinating social networks.  This research also proposes that Thai Buddhist missionaries in Sweden develop their way and role by building a network to propagate Buddhism in Sweden as well as developing and promoting cultural activities to ensure the sustainability of their position.