An Integration of Secretary Works Based on Buddhist Principles

Abstract

This research article aimed to: 1) examine the concepts and theories of secretarial work performance; 2) investigate secretarial work performance through Buddhist principles; 3) integrate secretarial work performance with Buddhist principles; and 4) propose a body of knowledge on secretarial work performance grounded in Buddhist principles. The study employed a qualitative research methodology, utilizing analytical examination of data from the Tipitaka, related textbooks and documents, and in-depth interviews with key informants, including five ecclesiastical administrators, five academics, and five correspondence and records officers. The data were analyzed through content analysis and presented descriptively.

          The research found that:

1. The conceptual framework of secretarial work performance encompasses four dimensions: administrative work, communication, personality, and human relations and service.
2. Secretarial work performance, when interpreted through Buddhist principles, is grounded in four key doctrines: the Four Iddhipada (Bases of Success) as a pathway to achievement; the Four Right Speech (Vācīsucarita) as a framework for effective communication; the Two Principles of Moral Beauty (Dhamma that makes one graceful), namely patience and gentle conduct; and the Four Saṅgahavatthu (Bases of Social Solidarity) as a means of fostering goodwill and interpersonal relationships.
3. The integration of secretarial work performance with Buddhist principles demonstrates a coherent alignment across all four dimensions: administrative work corresponds to the Four Iddhipada; communication corresponds to the Four Right Speech; personality corresponds to the Two Principles of Moral Beauty; and human relations and service correspond to the Four Saṅgahavatthu.
4. The resulting body of knowledge is conceptualized as the “4S Model” comprising: S1–System Skill (a passion for administrative work); S2–Speech Ethics (communication with integrity); S3–Self-Character (cultivation of inner moral beauty); and S4–Social Harmony (a spirit of service). This model enables secretarial professionals to develop both professional competencies and inner virtues simultaneously, thereby enhancing organizational effectiveness and sustainability.