MODEL FOR CHINESE SANGHA DEVELOPMENT IN THE NEW NORMAL ERA

Abstract

Background and Objective: Thai Buddhism responds to new challenges and opportunities that cut across Thai society and cultural patterns in the modern period. Buddhism is playing a growing role in constitutional practice in Thailand. In recent years, constitutional reform efforts in majority-Buddhist Thailand have sparked new questions about the development of Sangha for sustainability. This research focuses on the relationship between ecclesiastical officials and organizational development, learning organization, commitment, and Chinese Sangha development. It evaluates the effectiveness of these relationships and determines how they directly influence the development of the Chinese Sangha. This research aims to examine the causal factors affecting the Chinese Sangha development in the New Normal era.

Methodology: The sample group consisted of Chinese Sangha and Sāmaṇera from 14 Chinese sects’ temples with a structural equation model (SEM). The researchers had set the sample size at a ratio of 20 times the observable variable. The study consisted of 16 observed variables. The sample comprised 325 persons, which included 82 Sangha and 243 Sāmaṇera from 14 Chinese sects’ temples in Thailand. The sampling was conducted with proportional stratified random sampling and set the sample group as a ratio of each stage per population of Upāsaka and Upāsikā.

Main Results: The research questions dictated the use of the structural equation model. The model was a suitable model, which indicated that every latent variable connected with every observed variable, and Error terms were uncorrelated. The research results revealed that the relationship between the ecclesiastical officials and the other endogenous variables was positively related statistically and significantly at a level of 0.01. The statistical analysis found that the ecclesiastical officials, organizational development, learning organization, and commitment influenced Chinese Sangha development at 0.001 and 0.05 accordingly. The leaders’ variable impacted the Chinese Sangha development, valued at 0.94 shared from the indirect effect valued at 0.72 at a statistically significant level of 0.01. Additionally, the learning organization factor had the strongest direct impact on the development of the Chinese - the greatest influence was valued at 0.40. A measurement model indicated satisfaction in Sangha convergent validity and discriminant validity (CR>0.7, AVE>0.5). All significant paths were positively related to personnel development. The structural equation model indicated the absolute fit measure since the model fit the data. The statistical values were as indicated: - Chi-square = 88.49, df = 74, p-value = 0.119, GFI = 0.97, AGFI = 0.93, RMR= 0.005, RMSEA = 0.025, and CFI = 1.00. The findings provided empirical evidence that this structural equation model was fruitful for generalization.

Involvement to Buddhadhamma: The research findings has supported the structural model indicating that the model for the development of Chinese Sangha contributes to sustainable development in Thailand. The model for Chinese Sangha development differs from previous studies, which do not integrate various concepts and theories to promote religious sustainable development. Leaders who focus on human resource development can make the organization thrive. Religious organizations should have a clear roadmap for developing their human resources that promotes global thriving and welfare that contribute to positive socio-economic progress. This interdisciplinary and collaborative research model enables religious leaders to deliver their communities with accurate and timely informative guidelines about the best way to care for the world.

Conclusions: This research result indicated that the findings generally supported the proposed model that was deeply rooted in the theoretical foundations of leaders, organizational development, learning organization, and commitment. The study also produced findings that every causal factor that influenced the dependent variable statistically significantly and consistently with the research objectives.