Government Form for the Beauty of the Sangha of the Abbots in Sukhothai Province

Abstract

The objectives of this research article were 1) to study the principles of Acariyavatta and Antevasikavatta in Theravada Buddhism; 2) to study the government for the beauty of the Sangha in Theravada Buddhism and the Thai Sangha; and 3) to present a form of government for the beauty of the Sangha of the abbots in Sukhothai Province. It was a qualitative research by studying the document information from Tipitaka, Commentary, textbooks, articles and related research together with in-depth field interviews from the Sangha and Buddhist scholars in Sukhothai Province. Small group discussion with experts was conducted. Data was analyzed by content analysis together with presentation of a descriptive and analytical report. The results of the research found that 1) the principles of Acariyavatata in Theravada Buddhism were the duties that Antevasikas should perform with their teachers and the principles of Antevasikavatta were the duties that teachers should perform with Antevasikas which were the principles of governance or the principle of coexistence of the Sangha during the Buddha's time; 2) the conditions of government for the beauty of the Sangha in Theravada Buddhism and the Thai Sangha found that in addition to adhering to governance according to the principles of Dhamma and Vinaya, governing according to the Sangha Act and the rules of the Sangha Supreme Council created formal relationships by ordering from the person with the authority to govern. Therefore, the personal relationship as a teacher and student was reduced; and 3) the guidelines for governing the beauty of the Sangha of the abbots in Sukhothai Province. The abbots that were Nissayacariya must comply with the qualifications of the teachers to be a good example for Antevasikas by using the 5 A. A model to train and organize the performance of duties and behavior of Antevasikas in various aspects, namely education, behavior, assistance, laypersons, and Adhikarana to create religious heirs with the beautiful form of government mentioned above that were very suitable and can be used in real development.