Monk and Social Welfare Work · SBAM Repository

Title: Monk and Social Welfare Work
Author: Ashin Nisānātha
Type: Research Paper
Format: PDF
Language: English
Subject: Buddhist Studies
Date: 2019
Place: Mandalay
Publisher: Sitagu Buddhist Academy Mandalay
Rights Holder: Sitagu Buddhist Academy Mandalay
Abstract: The Buddha himself, along with his life, did welfare work to save all of the sentient beings’ lives not only delivering Dhamma that can eradicate pains and sorrows but also giving material needs that can be temporarily appeased from them. His disciples were also encouraged to follow His path unequivocally. He praises whoever is doing welfare works with a right attitude and a good hearted-mind. Without expectation of gain and fame, a monk needs to involve in social welfare works. This article deals with monks’ involving in social welfare works that can be unavoidable in the popular community of monks and focuses on how to perform to be free from guilt especially Kuladūsana offense. Today most of the other religious leaders do missionary works having given man’s requirements for the development and influence of their religions, but monks, the leaders of Buddhism, are staying as if they did not know that, having excused Vinaya rules. On the one hand, although they participate in social welfare works, they carry out them beyond Vinaya disciplinary rules; do not know in depth the Vinaya disciplinary rules that must be avoided on carrying out social welfare works. In modern age, the work of social welfares plays in a vital role to develop and promote the Buddha’s dispensation. This article is mainly intended to provide the findings how to carry out social welfare work according to Vinaya rules; how to give material needs as well as medical treatments to whom; and how a monk keeps morale and convictions in mind on performing social welfare works. For that providence, a writer has completed it, taking out of Pāli literatures, commentaries, sub-commentaries, books, and articles related to it.

Keywords: Social welfare work, Kuladūsana offence, monk, layperson, material needs, conviction and morale

Item sets: SBAM Annual Seminar Proceedings 2019