DEVELOPMENT OF YOUTH MEDIATOR BY BUDDHIST PEACE METHODS A CASE STUDY OF UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS AT MAHACHULALONGKORNRAJAVIDYALAYA UNIVERSITY, NAKHON SI THAMMARAT CAMPUS

Abstract

Background and Objective: Currently, Thai society faces many problems, such as economic problems, difficulties in community living, and issues related to violence among teenagers. Violence occurred in all dimensions of children and youth, whether they witnessed violence within the family, became victims of violence, or acted as the perpetrators of violence against people close to them. This extended from home to the community and even spreading to schools. In this regard, statistics from the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security on crimes committed by Thai children and teenagers who had been prosecuted nationwide revealed that the problem of violence among youth, especially among students, resulted in more than 10,000 cases per year. The aforementioned situation, demonstrated the rising levels of violence among youth. Therefore, the researcher became interested in and recognized the importance of studying the development of youth mediators using Buddhist peaceful methods. The case study focused on undergraduate students from Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University, Nakhon Si Thammarat Campus. The goal was to establish a core group of youth mediators, trained in Buddhist peaceful methods, who would act as peace engineers, promoting peace among students. This research aimed to present the development of youth mediators using Buddhist peaceful methods by the undergraduate students of Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University, Nakhon Si Thammarat Campus.
Methodology: This was qualitative research with the following three principles: 1) Respect for human dignity; 2) Respect for rights, freedoms, and the rules of a just society; and 3) Responsibility for oneself, others, and society. Data were analyzed from documents and field data. The research instrument was an unstructured interview, with in-depth interview data collected from key informants which divided into four groups: 1) Educational institution administrators (3 People); 2) Faculty members (6 People); 3) Academics/staff (4 People); and 4) Student representatives (12 People), totaling 25 participants.
Main Results: The research revealed that the development of youth dispute mediation using Buddhist peaceful methods by undergraduate students of Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University, Nakhon Si Thammarat Campus, integrated Buddhist peaceful methods with modern science through the principles of the Noble Eightfold Path, which can be analyzed in the form of a youth peaceful model that leads to the mediation process and the resolution of problems or potential conflicts in accordance with the process.
Involvement to Buddhadhamma: The development of youth mediation aligns with the principles of Buddhism, specifically the Noble Eightfold Path, which includes: Sammàdiññhi: Right View, Sammàsaïkappa: Right Thought, Sammàvàcà: Right Speech, Sammàkammanta: Right Action, Sammà-àjãva: Right Livelihood, Sammàvàyàma: Right Effort, Sammàsati: Right Mindfulness, and Sammàsamàdhi: Right Concentration.
Conclusions: The creation of youth mediators as models of youth mediation in society or "Peace Engineers" aimed to reduce problems and prevent conflicts in universities, communities and society based on the concept of "developing life at all 3 levels" to establish a balance of body, mind and thought with the goal of promoting a peaceful university life society.