AN ANALYTICAL STUDY OF PROBLEMS AND RESTORATION STRATEGIES IN THAI BUDDHISM ACCORDING TO CONTEMPORARY BUDDHIST PRINCIPLES

Abstract

This academic article aims to analyze the problems currently facing Thai Buddhism, both internal and external, and to propose ways to restore faith and develop Buddhism in harmony with contemporary society, using Buddhist principles as the analytical framework The study found that internal problems include inappropriate behavior among monks, the decline of monastic discipline, the commercialization of Buddhism, and internal divisions within the monastic community. External problems include public misunderstanding of Buddhist teachings, the influence of materialism and technology, the spread of non-Buddhist ideologies, and political interference The proposed solutions emphasize the application of core Buddhist principles such as morality (sila) oncentration (samadhi) wisdom (panya) mindfulness (sati) and dependent origination (idappaccayata) to foster moral consciousness, strengthen the role of monks as spiritual leaders within their communities, and promote proper education in the Dhamma and Vinaya. These measures aim to ensure that Buddhism remains a firm and enduring foundation for the moral and spiritual life of Thai society.