THE ROLE OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL OFFICIALS’ SANGHA ADMINISTRATION IN DHAMMAYUT SANGHA ADMINISTRATIVE AREA, ROI ET PROVINCE

Abstract

The objectives of this research were 1) to study the role of the ecclesiastical officials’ Sangha administration in Dhammayut Sangha administrative area, Roi Et Province. 2) to compare the opinions on the role of the ecclesiastical officials’ Sangha administration in in mention classified by age, years of monastic seniority (vassa), level of Dhamma education (Nak Tham), and position. 3) To study recommendations regarding the role of the ecclesiastical officials’ Sangha administration in Dhammayut Sangha administrative area, Roi Et Province.The sample group consisted of 173 Buddhist ecclesiastical administrators (Provincial Chief Monk, Deputy Provincial Chief Monk, District Chief Monk, Subdistrict Chief Monk, Abbots, and Assistant Abbots) within the Dhammayut Sangha administrative area, Roi Et Province. The research instrument used was a questionnaire with content validity between 0.67 to 1.00 and reliability at 0.92. The statistical analyses employed include frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation. The statistics used for hypothesis testing include t-test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and content analysis.

            The research found that: 1) The role of the ecclesiastical officials’ Sangha administration in Dhammayut Sangha administrative area, Roi Et Province overall and aspect at a high level, ranked in order of average scores from highest to lowest as follows: public welfare, educational welfare, and administration, respectively. 2) The results comparison of the opinions on the role of the ecclesiastical officials’ Sangha administration in Dhammayut Sangha administrative area, Roi Et Province classified by age, years of monastic seniority (vassa), level of Dhamma education (Nak Tham), and position show that overall and, in each aspect, there is no significant difference, which does not align with the research hypothesis. 3) The recommendations regarding the role of the ecclesiastical officials’ Sangha administration in Dhammayut Sangha administrative area, Roi Et Province are as follows: Ecclesiastical administrators should play a proactive role in planning, development, and coordination both within the Sangha and with external organizations in order to enhance the quality of governance, education, propagation, public works, and public welfare in accordance with the Vinaya and the needs of contemporary society. In addition, emphasis should be placed on transparent and sustainable resource utilization to foster public confidence and ensure the long-term stability of Buddhism.