MONASTERY MANAGEMENT STRATEGY: LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE BIOGRAPHY OF PHRA THEPAYANAMONGKHOL (LUANG PA) FORMER ABBOT OF WAT LUANG PHO SOT DHAMMAGAYARAM RATCHABURI PROVINCE (1991 - 2018)

Abstract

This academic article aims to study the temple administration strategy: extracting lessons from the biography of Phra Thepyanmongkol (Luang Pa), the former abbot of Wat Luang Pho Sod Dhammakayaram, Ratchaburi Province (1991-2018). By studying the history and achievements of Phra Thepyanmongkol (Luang Pa) and synthesizing the results of the study, it was found that 1. Phra Thepyanmongkol (Luang Pa) had administered the business of propagating the Dhamma to flourish. Then, the steps were taken in sequence until the Ministry of Education announced the establishment of a Buddhist temple named Wat Luang Pho Sod Dhammakayaram to be a memorial to the abbot of Wat Paknam, Phra Mongkolthepmuni (Sod Chanthosaro). 2. The temple administration strategy provides a place of study for monks, novices and the general public. There are rules and regulations that are a shared policy based on the Dhamma-Vinaya and the Sangha Act. There is education and training for monks and novices, both in terms of Buddhist scriptures (Dhamma and Pali) and training in the practice of meditation. The temple has continued its important activities from the Dhammakaya Buddhist Meditation Institute, which has been in operation since 1982, namely, opening the Samatha-Vipassana Meditation training and disseminating Dhamma through various media in the country, up until the present. After Luang Por passed away, Wat Luang Por Sodh Dhammakayaram, led by Phra Thep Phra Ratchawachiranusith, Ph.D. 9, Asst. Prof. Dr., the abbot of Wat Luang Por Sodh Dhammakayaram, the provincial ecclesiastical chief of Ratchaburi, has continued Luang Por’s aspirations, especially in the more strategic management of the temple, using the very important information technology to help manage the temple and the affairs of the Sangha.