Wat Thepsurin, Surin Province: Public Welfare through Buddhist Way

Abstract

This academic article aims to present the Buddhist-oriented public welfare works of Wat Thep Surin in Surin Province, grounded in Buddhist concepts. Utilizing a qualitative methodology centered on academic documentary research and fieldwork, the collected data were analyzed through content analysis and presented in a narrative descriptive format.The findings can be summarized as follows: that Wat Thep Surin, under the leadership of Phra Khru Sriparivattisathorn (Phra Maha Surat Inthapañño), the Abbot and Deputy Ecclesiastical District Head of Nai Mueang Sub-district, Mueang District, Surin Province, has driven public welfare initiatives across seven key dimensions: 1) Ecclesiastical Administration: Serving as abbot since 2001, demonstrating a steadfast dedication to supervising Buddhist-oriented public welfare operations and sustaining Buddhism. 2) Education: Serving as a Dhamma-Pali instructor and a lecturer at Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University (MCU), Surin Campus, acting as an examiner for the National Sanam Luang Examinations, and supporting school lunch funds as well as local culture. 3) Dhamma Propagation: Delivering Dhamma discourses, conducting Vipassana training, organizing the celebration for the royally bestowed Bodhi tree from Bodh Gaya (2002), and holding the annual Devo Rohana alms-giving ceremony since 2007. 4)Public Utilities: Designing the temple master plan, constructing concrete roads (2.5 million Baht), installing an underground electrical system (1.5 million Baht), initiating the "Shady Temple" tree-planting project (1.5 million Baht), and building 38 restrooms (3 million Baht). 5) Renovation and Restoration: Improving the landscape through soil filling and laying drainage pipes for flood prevention (2.5 million Baht), and repairing the crematorium along with installing a standard pollution-free incinerator (3.135 million Baht). 6) Public Welfare: Establishing the Thep Surin Mushroom Cultivation Center for Sufficiency Economy (2014), permitting the use of the temple crematorium for managing the bodies of COVID-19 victims (2021), and establishing a shelter center to assist vulnerable people (2025). 7) Special Assignments: Serving as a school board member for Wanit Nukul School and Municipal School 3, and participating as a committee member for MCU's core curriculum development and examination drafting. All these initiatives fulfill the Buddha’s teaching of acting for the benefit, happiness, and compassion of the multitude and the world without seeking personal interest. Furthermore, they correspond with the roles of Buddhist monks in contemporary Thai society, who function as spiritual and intellectual leaders. They objectively explain social issues, support educational and cultural institutions, instill moral values in youth, provide spiritual refuge during crises, foster social solidarity through rituals, and serve as a social control mechanism by utilizing Dhamma and moral precepts to regulate public behavior, thereby ensuring that society coexists in peace, harmony, and order.