This thesis entitled “A Study of Buddhism Propagation in Thailand Digital Era”, has three objectives: (1) to study the social environment in the digital era, (2) to study the effects of the digital era on Buddhism, and 3) to present the guidelines of Buddhism propagation that suit for the digital era society by document study and then analyzing. This is a documentary research.

The study found that the principles of the content of the propagation there are seven ways as follows: (1) Teaching from the concrete to the abstract, (2) Prudent instruction respectively, (3) Teaching with using accessories, (4) Teaching at the point (5) Teaching as appropriate as necessary, (6) Teaching the reason, (6) Teaching that meaningful things. That are the principle of Buddha and the disciples taken in propagation of the Buddhist era until Buddhism is prosperous in India and Buddhism extends to the present.

The social environment of monks in the digital era, monastic organizations should therefore have more monks who study and develop in information technology to be able to propagate to new generations because they speak the same language.     If not traveling with the body, it can rely on the prosperity of technology to propagate the Dhamma through Internet or other channels. To analyze whether Thai monks,    are they necessary to use ICT? That have to consider the duties and roles of Thai monks in the view of the four Buddhist companies that consists of monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen by applying the four principles of Mahãparinibbãnasutta as follows: (1) the study of Dhamma, (2) applying the knowledge to practice (personal benefit), (3) Buddhism propagation for others to understand and practice (public benefit),  (4) Religion protection when someone encroach the disciplines.

The impact of the digital era on Buddhism in the present, communication has developed to the global network level (Internet), sending information to the worldwide without borders but the propagation of Buddhism requires information media in particular, the documents, books, it still need to be used primarily. Because it provides benefits as high benefits, the most economical, and must know the Dhamma in order to be senders who have property, including real knowledge, tactful or content of each area. To communicate to the receivers and have also the purpose of communication that is beneficial to receivers in that society as well and must have responsibility for their communication. Therefore, the guidelines of the senders must present content of good message and make life better, happier, leading to problem solving and be useful that is not causing various penalties. The guideline for practitioners in transmission, including acting as a friendly person to the receivers, the senders therefore needs to do good for self-practicing according to the principle of threefold training, namely virtue, concentration and wisdom, as well as having attention (Manasikãn) smartly in determining what should be communicated.

The impact of information technology on Buddhism flows from the development of information technology affecting both Buddhism and the world society generally due to the use of information technology without caution that will result as follows: (1) The positive impact on Buddhism, including (1.1) Impact on education of Thai monks in the achievement of learning Pali and elementary education better (1.2) The impact on the propagation of Buddhism both domestic and foreign country in the digital media channels (1.3) As a result, the youths have studied Buddhism in the media system of multimedia more and more. (1.4) The effect of informing news  of the Sangha faster in the digital channels to save times. (2) Negative impact on Buddhism,  (2.1) The impact on the improper use of monks and novices in sharing images, posting improper images that is resulted to lose faith in Buddhism, (2.2) The impact on the monks is not known to divide the time to get rid of the passion and conducting the monk routines, (2.3) The impact on the protecting Dhamma disciplines such as monks and novices use the social media on the dangerous side to monkhood, including the conversation with women about matters that are unappropriated to the Dhamma disciplines.

The guidelines for propagating Buddhism propagation that appropriate to the digital era society, 1. The Buddhism propagation in various media channels such as Facebook, Line, Youtube and website (www.) by using as a slide or video media, short video and video Live. That is an activity that the temple has organized such as novice ordination (Pabbajjã), Buddhist ordination (Upasampãda), Mãghapüjã Day, Visãghapüjã Day, Chanting ceremony over a year by inserting the Dhamma topics and explain the meaning of the Dhamma topics to be easy to understand by using modern communication language and open a channel for questions and answers both Thai and English language.

In the way of propagating Buddhism that appropriate to the digital society of Thai monks through Facebook, YouTube, website, uploading pictures, videos and quizzes that is the multimedia system such as making a speeches, lectures, seminars, interviews etc. and then to present the Buddhadhamma by uploading videos according to various communication channels in order to listeners will listen to Dhamma through the digital channels to propagate Buddhism onto people who do not have time to go the temple for listening to the Dhamma  and as the moral idea for making inspiration or getting up to refrain from doing evil or returning to practice the Dhamma.

Download