BUDDHIST INTEGRATION FOR PROMOTING PEOPLE’S PARTICIPATION IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMMUNITIES ALONG THE LAT PHRAO CANAL, BANGKOK METROPOLIS

Abstract

This research aimed: 1. To study the level of public participation in community development along the Lat Phrao Canal in Bangkok, 2. To examine the relationship between the Seven Principles of Non-Decline (Aparihaniya-dhamma) and public participation in community development in the same area, and 3. To propose a Buddhist-integrated approach to enhance public participation in the development of the Lat Phrao Canal community. A mixed-methods approach was employed. The quantitative phase collected data from 336 respondents using a questionnaire with a reliability coefficient of 0.939. The data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and Pearson’s correlation coefficient. The qualitative phase involved in-depth interviewing 10 key informants, and the data were analyzed using descriptive content analysis.

The results revealed that: 1. the overall level of public participation in the community development along the Lat Phrao Canal was moderate 2. there was a statistically significant positive moderate correlation between the Seven Principles of Non-Decline and public participation (R=.790** and 3. the Buddhist-integrated approach based on the Aparihaniyadhamma, Principles leading to only prosterity, suggested that regular and inclusive community meetings, participatory decision-making, mutual respect, honoring elders, gender equity, and protection of women helped foster social harmony, reduce conflict, and promote democratic equality in community development.