A Structural Model of Buddhist Transmission and Propagation for Sustainability and Identity Maintenance of the Thai Ethnic Community in Myeik, Myanmar

Abstract

This study employs a qualitative research approach with the objective of testing a structural model of the transmission and dissemination of Buddhism within the Thai ethnic community in Myeik City, Myanmar. The study focuses on analyzing causal relationships among latent variables within a cross-border and multicultural context. The data collection for this research will be conducted with a purposive sample of 25 key informants, including local leaders, experts, distinguished individuals, and representatives of the Thai community in Myiek. The research tool used is an interview questionnaire that has been reviewed and validated by experts. The findings reveal that the model of Buddhist transmission and dissemination in the Myeik community operates as a Dynamic Holistic System, comprising five interrelated dimensions: (1) the Buddhist doctrinal core, (2) cultural meaning-making, (3) identity reproduction, (4) social capital, and (5) digital adaptation. Hypothesis testing indicates that the Buddhist doctrinal core functions as a central value axis, exerting a positive influence on both cultural meaning-making and the reproduction of Thai ethnic identity. These processes, in turn, contribute to the accumulation of social capital in the form of trust and cooperation within the community. Furthermore, the study identifies a feedback loop relationship, particularly highlighting how digital adaptation enhances the capacity for meaning making and strengthens identity reproduction in the modern world. The study concludes that the sustainability of Buddhist transmission in a cross-border context does not arise solely from the preservation of traditional forms, but rather from a dynamic equilibrium between maintaining the essence of Buddhist teachings and adapting structurally and communicatively to align with multicultural societies and the digital age. This model can serve as a strategic prototype for the dissemination of Buddhism and the preservation of Thai ethnic identity in other neighboring countries with similar contexts.