Guidelines for Conducting an Integrated Buddhist Sufficiency Economy

Abstract

The objectives of this research article were 1) to study the use of the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy of farmers; 2) to study the moral principles that promoted the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy of farmers; and 3) to present guidelines for implementing an integrated Buddhist Sufficiency Economy. It was a qualitative research by in-depth interviews with 18 key informants and group discussions with 9 experts. Descriptive content analysis was used. The results of the research found that 1) using the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy of farmers found that when farmers followed Sufficiency Economy Philosophy made yourself and society develop mentally and intellectually by working with diligence, knowing how to preserve wealth, spending only in proportion to your situation. When you had work, you must know how to spend and share with your neighbors. accumulate merit by giving alms that what was important was having a good quality of life; 2) moral principles to promote the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy of farmers found that when farmers have acted according to the Dhamma principles, they took them as a guideline for living life to develop oneself and society, be a person of love, kindness, sacrifice, and forgiveness, work with diligence, make your life and family coexist peacefully with society and be able to prevent and solve various problems. 3) presentation of guidelines for conducting an integrated Buddhist sufficiency economy found that following the sufficiency economy philosophy allowed families to have enough to eat, without shortages. Family members did not have to leave their homes to find work in other place. People in the community were united, exchanged knowledge available in the community together. Sufficiency economy made the economic system in the country strong. It was a self-reliant economic system. It was not produced for sale or export only. When there were economic problems, Thailand was less affected because farmers who had integrated the sufficiency economy can produce products for their own use. It gave farmers the principles to improve and develop their livelihoods for the better.