Abstract

          This thesis is of 3 objectives :- to study the concept about forest resource conservation in Theravāda Buddhism, 2. to study the principles of teachings in relation to the forests in Theravāda Buddhism and 3. to study the roles in the Sangha’s conservation of the forest resources in the project of the Buddhist parks, in Bhaji River Wildlife Sanctuary, Rajaburi Province. It is a qualitative research.

          From the research, it is found that the forests are very important with many people, because the forests are regarded as of the importance as they are the four factors in carrying out the human beings’ lives. The forests have been of the relationships with Buddhism for a long time from the Buddha’s time up to the present one. For this reason, the forest and Buddhism cannot be separated from each other. From the consideration of the principles of teachings in Buddhism, it is found that the Buddha brought the trees to be the examples to compare with the Doctrinal Principles with the aim to teach the people to know the Dhammas more and more. There are many types of the Buddhist view points toward the forests, on the side of the pleasure, the fear and the factor help one to develop oneself.

          The Vinaya enaction in relation to the living in the forest is divided into 2 sides:-1. The Sikkhāpadas in Pātimokkha consist of 9 Sikkhāpadas. On the other hand, the Sikkhāpada outside Pātimokkha:- Abhisamācārikavatra. The Vinayapaññatti mentions about what the monks living in the forest should do and should not do in the forest. Such the action is on the 4 sides. If the monks do not practice according to the fixed Buddhist Act, they will receive the heavy and light Āpatti differently. In addition to this points, the Buddha used the trees and the forests to be the comparative examples to cause the monks to easily understand the Doctrinal Principle such as the comparision of the two or three leaves of Pradu Lie Tree. Such the comparision is like what the Buddha had know and taught the monks to practice according to what he taught. What the Buddha taught was only the necessary things to the attainment of the Ariyamaggas.

          Buddhist Park Project Bhaji River Wildlife Sanctuary Rajaburi Province have been interesting the 2 Sangha offices. Namely:- The 2 Sangha offices called Cetiya Pabbata and Hau Cikau. Both of them have been of the roles about forest resource conservation. They are also of the some roles which are different according the state of the establishment, that is to say:-The monks’ office called Hau Cikau situated in the deep forest. It is, thus, of some roles which are in relationship with the planting of the forest in the co-operative characteristics between the fruit trees and the forest trees. In this Sangha office, there is the construction of Check Dam. There is also another one Sangha office called Cetiya Pabbata situated in the land of a community. So, this temple is of some roles which are significant in the communication and the co-operation with the government offices. This fact causes this Sangha Office to be of the communicative target in the compound of the temple. There are also the village people to come to join in the different activities. The Sangha’s 10 roles show that the monks are necessary as the mental leaders for the people, and they are the persons who build up the mental though in forest resource conservation to be complete in the future.

Download