The Noble Eightfold Path: A Paradigm for the Development of the Sangha’s Potential in Prang Ku District, Si Sa Ket Province through the 1st Generation of Preacher Monks Training Project, Phet Prang Ku

Abstract

The purposes of this research article were 1) to analyze the necessity and need; 2) to drive the training project; and 3) to extract lessons from the 1^st generation of preacher monks training project, Phet Prang Ku. This was the action research. The action area was Wat Prang Ku, Ku Subdistrict, Prang Ku District, Si Sa Ket Province. This research had 3 steps as follows: Step 1 was to analyze the problems and needs of the Sangha in Prang Ku District who lacked the skills of the master of ceremonies and the correct way to preach Dhamma; Step 2 was to plan and determine the subjects and teaching methods, including the correct guidelines for practical training; Step 3 was to hold small group meetings with 24 stakeholders and visit the field to collect data, hold online working group meetings with 42 monks. Step 4 was to implement, assign tasks, have responsibilities, coordinate in the area, and drive activities according to the established format; Step 5 was to extract lessons, consisting of in-depth interviews with 19 key informants and focus group discussions with the working group and 25 public-spirited Buddhist volunteers. Descriptive analysis was conducted. The research results found that 1) the Sangha of Prang Ku District lacked experience and knowledge about the correct preaching method and did not have knowledge about being a master of ceremonies at religious ceremonies or important religious days that monks and novices can perform this duty; 2) the implementation of the training project for preacher monks by integrating knowledge from monk lecturers with knowledge and ability to transfer theoretical knowledge as well as practical training; 3) lessons learned was to  start from the problems found by the Sangha of Prang Ku District as mentioned in item 1) and seeking new knowledge, creating learning that was different from the original by focusing on solving problems directly in order to create knowledge capital about preaching, which was to create a foundation for developing intelligence and increasing the Sangha’s potential of Prang Ku District to propagate Buddhism through preaching correctly according to the principle of the Salika Feeding.