DRIVING THE NON-SMOKING TEMPLE POLICY OF THE CLERGY IN LAMTHAP DISTRICT, KRABI PROVINCE

Abstract

Background and Objectives: The measure of non-smoking temples is a legal requirement and a policy of the Supreme Sangha Council that must be effectively implemented, particularly by the monastic community in Lam Thap District, Krabi Province. This area has continuously declared a non-smoking temple policy. However, it has yet to achieve its targets due to the lack of concrete policy implementation, awareness-building, and practical behavioral guidelines. The measure of non-smoking temples is a legal requirement and a policy of the Supreme Sangha Council that must be effectively implemented, particularly by the monastic community in Lam Thap District, Krabi Province. This area has continuously declared a non-smoking temple policy. However, it has yet to achieve its targets due to the lack of concrete policy implementation, awareness-building, and practical behavioral guidelines. Therefore, a study titled "The Implementation of Non-smoking Temple Policy by the Monastic Community in Lam Thap District, Krabi Province" examined
the implementation of non-smoking temples by the monastic community and provided recommendations for driving the smoke-free temple policy.

Methodology: This study employs a mixed methods research approach. The sample group consists of 115 monks and novices in the monastic administrative district of Lam Thap, Krabi Province, and 19 key informants. The research tools used include questionnaires and unstructured interviews. Data collection involved distributing the questionnaires to the sample group for them to complete and conducting face-to-face interviews with the key informants. The statistical methods used in the research include frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation, with the qualitative data being analyzed through descriptive content analysis.

Main Results: 1) The implementation of the non-smoking temple policy by the monastic community shows the highest average level in the area of project and activity development for policy implementation. The areas of mission definition, policy reception, and policy definition for practice are at a high level, while the area of policy translation has a lower average level;
and 2) The guidelines for implementing the non-smoking temple policy by the monastic community encompass five aspects: 1) Policy translation, 2) Policy reception, 3) Mission definition, 4) Policy definition for practice, and 5) Structure and activity definition for implementation. Efforts include campaigns to highlight the dangers of smoking, finding ways to prevent smoking, providing recommendations, warnings, and mutual oversight among the monastic community. These efforts are essential for joint action.

Involvement to Buddhadhamma: Stop smoking cigarettes is a practice of the Noble Path.
It requires diligence in practice because practicing according to the Noble Path helps escape suffering. By applying Buddhism's Four Noble Truths to help develop wisdom and mind, smokers will have knowledge, understanding, and awareness to Stop smoking cigarettes to know how it harms and dangers of smoking, which will lead to behavioral changes, have enough motivation to stop smoking cigarette and have better life goals by training the body, speech, and mind to be strength, patient, and to keep themselves from smoking and quitting smoking. They will have mindfulness that is aware at all times and will be able to see success in the process of eliminating cravings and quitting smoking, leading to new behaviors to become new people.

Conclusions: The implementation of the non-smoking temple policy by the Lam Thap District monastic committee, in terms of project and activity planning, had the highest average score. The aspects of mission determination, policy reception, and policy-setting for implementation had high average scores, while the policy translation aspect had a lower average score. It was recommended that joint meetings be held for discussion and problem-solving regarding the non-smoking temple policy to enhance the image by advising, monitoring, and supervising one another within the monastic community. Therefore, the committee should include representatives from the "Bvor" "(Community)."