THE APPLICATION OF THE FOUR PRINCIPLES OF IDDHIPADA IN THE SCHOLARLY COMMUNICATION OF SCOPUS-INDEXED AUTHORS: A CASE STUDY OF SRINAKHARINWIROT UNIVERSITY, THAILAND

Abstract

Background and Objective: Scholarly communication is the creation, peer review, sharing and preservation of a wide variety of academic outputs. It functions as a recognized metric of academic performance, which includes emerging formats such as preprints and online scholarly exchanges. Bibliometrics is used to evaluate scholarly communication, with publication and citation counts as the primary metrics. However, quantitative metrics ignore internal and cultural factors that drive academic success. To address this gap and extend existing scholarly communication research, this study explores how Buddhist principles contextualize the research practices of Thai scholars.  The findings indicate that the four principles of Iddhipada are essential teachings in Buddhism that address internal qualities. They are: 1) Chanda (Aspiration), representing satisfaction and passion in work; 2) Viriya (Effort), supporting perseverance when facing obstacles; 3) Citta (Focus), involving concentration and mindfulness, and 4) Vimamsa (Investigation), using wisdom for reflection and improvement. The four principles of Iddhipada are crucial internal drivers for scholars to produce high-quality academic work in order to promote their success in academia. Therefore, this study aimed to explore how the four principles of Iddhipada (Four Paths to Success) Buddhist principles are applied within the scholarly communication process of authors affiliated with Srinakharinwirot University, whose works are indexed in the Scopus database.

Methodology: This qualitative study employed purposive sampling to include 18 key informants, namely, authors at Srinakharinwirot University with high citation rates indexed in Scopus. The data were collected from semi-structured in-depth interviews from October 2024 to August 2025, with a valid instrument designed to explore the application of the four principles of Iddhipada while they work. Furthermore, expert validation was undertaken for the interviews, and a pilot phase was implemented to establish reliability. The data analysis adopted content analysis, triangulation, and inductive analysis. This integrated approach ensured the reliability of the results and facilitated the synthesis of various information sources into a unified framework.

Main Results: The initial bibliometric analysis revealed that 5,504 Scopus-indexed publications were produced across 26 academic units from 1981 to 2025. Building on this context, the qualitative findings demonstrated that international publication success is not merely a result of academic skills but is systematically driven by integrating the four principles of Iddhipada. The informants utilized Chanda to transform personal intent into public-oriented research commitments. Furthermore, Viriya and Citta functioned synergistically to overcome unwholesome states (Akusala-dhamma), such as mental stagnation, fostering grit and a growth mindset amidst complex academic duties. Lastly, Vimamsa was applied as a strategic and analytical tool for critical decision-making throughout the publication cycle.

Involvement to Buddhadhamma: In accordance with the scope of Applied Buddhism, this study conceptualizes the four principles of Iddhipada as a practical framework for scholarly communication. Integrating these traditional teachings with contemporary research practices provides a philosophical foundation for knowledge creation. Specifically, internal cultivation through mindfulness and wise reflection enhances the academic management process. Ultimately, this applied approach strengthens researchers' ethical commitments and sustains their engagement with international publication standards.

Conclusions: Based on these findings, the four principles of Iddhipada could be framed for academic excellence. Academic institutions should focus on context-specific support that models these enablers. In this way, universities would implement policies that help researchers apply Vimamsa (Investigation) to address peer-review feedback and cultivate Viriya (Effort) to build emotional resilience, thereby enhancing research productivity and scholarly quality.