DEVELOPMENT OF PUBLIC WELFARE OF TEMPLES AT BAN KHA DISTRICT IN RATCHABURI PROVINCE

Abstract

This research article aims to: 1. examine the level of development of public welfare activities of temples in Ban Kha District, Ratchaburi Province; 2. compare such development based on personal factors; and 3. explore problems, obstacles, and recommendations for improving these activities. A mixed-methods approach was employed. Quantitative data were collected through questionnaires from 390 residents and analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, F-test, and one-way ANOVA. Qualitative data were obtained from document analysis and in-depth interviews with nine key informants, and analyzed using content analysis within the contextual framework.

The research findings revealed that: 1.The level of development of public welfare activities of temples in Ban Kha District, Ratchaburi Province, overall, was at a high level. When considering each aspect, it was found that assistance in supporting others’ activities for public benefit had the highest mean at a high level, followed by support for people or all living beings, while the operation of activities for providing assistance had the lowest mean at a moderate level; 2. The comparative results based on personal factors showed that people with different gender, education, and income had no different opinions. However, people with different age and occupation had different levels of practice with statistical significance; and 3. The major problems and obstacles were that monks and temples still lacked the promotion of participation in advising and teaching Buddhists to behave properly according to Buddhist principles. As for recommendations, it was suggested that monks and temples should support participation in coordinating with all relevant agencies in an integrated manner.