A MODEL FOR SOLVING MONKS’ THAI FAITH CRISES BASED ON THE BUDDHIST DISCIPLINES (TRIPITAKA)

Abstract

                Based on the mixed methods (both qualitative and quantitative researches), the purposes of this study, entitled “A Model for Solving Monks’ Thai Faith Crises Based on the Buddhist Disciplines (Tripitaka)”, aimed to investigate factors on monks’ Thai faith crises influencing Thai Buddhists’ attitudes, the Buddhist orders (Vinaya) and laws of Mahathera Council related to solve Thai monks’faith crises, as well as guidelines for solving Thai monks’ faith crises based on the Buddhist disciplines (Tripitaka). The questionnaire related to restraint in accordance with the monastic disciplinary code, the purity of conduct as regards livelihood, pure conducts as regards the necessities of life, restraints in accordance with the monastic disciplinary code, and restraints of the senses or sense-control was all carried out for data analysis.

              The findings of study revealed that according to the chapter 12 on Sanghadisesas with the statement “Monks were not allowed to listen other monks’ praying on karma and did not follow its nevertheless, they finally behaved the worst conducts concerning Sanghadisesas.” it was viewed that this rule could be forced for the monks’ worse conducts. In addition, when Buddhists saw any monks who misbehaved with any Vinaya or obscenity, those monks’ worse conducts were informed to their abbot being responsible for probing their monks’ explicit guilt. It was, however, true that misbehaved monks would be warned for their stricter precepts whereas their bad conducts were not only blamed by abbots, but the syndicate discussion on monk’s bad conducts held at a temple should be also called for punishment purposes. When the clever monks have prayed the Buddha doctrine for motion at the meeting and three times for the Somnupasana doctrine so-called “four verbal declarations”, the misbehaved monks transgressed more their precepts were finally punished for the formal act of suspension (ùk-kàyp-nee-yá-gam).