AN APPLICATION OF BHAVANA 4 IN PROMOTING MORALITY OF THE VOLUNTARY-MINDED YOUTH CAMP, WAT KAEW KRO RAWARAM, ROYAL MONASTERY, KRABI PROVINCE

Abstract

This research article included the following objectives: 1) to study the concept of promoting morality of the voluntary-minded youth camp; 2) to investigate the Bhāvanā 4 principle in the Buddhist scriptures; and 3) to apply  the Bhāvanā 4 principle to promote morality of the voluntary-minded youth camp at Wat Kaew Korawaram, Royal Monastery, Krabi Province. It was a qualitative research focusing on studying documents and in-depth interview and presenting the findings in a descriptive form. The findings of this research were as follows. 1) Regarding the concept for promoting morality of the voluntary-minded youth camp, “voluntary-minded” was conducted  by human beings for the benefits of the public. When it was found that problems and sufferings arose with others and society, the voluntary-minded would be ready to dedicate time, physical and mental power, property or wisdom to create good things for others and for the public interest as well as to do good for society and environment. In other words, these voluntary works for the benefit of others and the society through devoting time, physical and mental power, property and wisdom could be called a voluntary-minded work or as a volunteer. 2) The Bhāvanā appearing in the Buddhist scriptures consists of 4  principle: (1) Kàya-bhāvanā (physical development): (2) Silabhāvanā (moral development) as a code for social relation in living life together; cittabhāvanā (the mental development) with mental training; and (4) Pannabhāvanā (intellectual development) with wisdom development in different levels. 3) The application of Bhāvanā 4 principles in promoting morality of the voluntary-minded youth camp was to have a living life with principles and methods through stepwise process. The goal was clear towards moral promotion through the process of properly cultivating and training by applying the four principles of Bhāvanā consisting of: 1) Kàyabhāvanā, physical development with physical and verbal control; 2) Silabhāvanā,  the moral development by following  the code of five precepts with livelihood, right professionals and well discipline; 3) cittabhāvanā, mental development through a certain level of the insight meditation practice which could be applied in daily life; and  4) Pannabhāvanā, intellectual development that could analyze and differentiate between wholesome and unwholesome deeds and be able to vigilantly live daily life and mindfully deal with various works in priority that in return helped promoting the morality of a sustainable voluntary-minded youth camp.