A Study of Guidelines for Buddhist Management of Phra That Phanom Cetiya Worship Event

Abstract

The aims of this research were: 1) to study the history and the problems of Phra That Phanom Cetiya worship event management; 2) to study the Buddhist management guidelines for Phra That Phanom worship event. This study was carried out by means of a qualitative research methodology by using the interview form to collect data.
The research results are as follows: Phra That Phanom Cetiya worship event was held again when the monk Phra Kru Viroj Rattanobon from Ubon Ratchathani Province led the villagers, both in That Phanom District and Ubon people to restore Phra That Phanom Cetiya during the years 1901-1906 by thecement work repair. When it was finished, they have celebrated the relics on the day of the third lunar month. Buddhists from different places came to participate in the event. Therefore, this is regarded as the beginning of the event to worship Phra That Phanom Cetiya. The problems of this event management are found in many aspects: people, money, materials and the location.
Theguidelines for the Buddhist event management is that in terms of people management, Three Puññakiriya-vatthu (Based of Meritorious Action) is used to give people opportunities to make donation, charity, precept observation, to follow regulations, to perform meditation, to listen to the dhamma, to create wholesome mind; in terms of money, Sāraṇīyadhamma (States of Conciliation) is used to build the sharing of incomes, fair allocation of benefits to the organization; in terms of materials, Three Attha (Benefits) is used in three ways: self-benefit, such as having equipment for organizing events; therefore not wasting budget for new procurement; benefits for the others, Buddhists who share benefits and maximize benefits by focusing on the benefits of the community; in terms of location arrangement, Paṭirūpadesavāsa (Suitable Region) is used to manage the site as a place for pilgrimage for arranging Buddhist activities. The Sangha and government agencies are clearly responsible to overall management focusing on social participation, meetings, assignments, monitoring and evaluation of work.