My review of Pattana Kitiarsa’s Monks, Mediums and Amulets has now been published as part of the SIU Journal of Management Special Supplement (http://ejournal.som.siu.ac.th).
Kitiarsa, Pattana, Monks, Mediums, and Amulets:
Thai Popular Buddhism Today, SIU Journal of Management, Vol.3, No.S1
(May, 2013), pp.150-3, available at: http://ejournal.som.siu.ac.th/files/Kitiarsa.pdf.
This paper, by Pramaha Min Putthithanasombat, Petcharat Lovichakorntikul, Sirirat Ngamsang and myself, has been accepted for presentation at the forthcoming ICGBE Conference to be held in June here in Bangkok.
Abstract:
The legacy of history, nationalism and lack of trust have contributed to the comparatively poor cross-border relations in the Mekong Region and, in particular, between Thailand and its majority Buddhist neighbours Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos. These relations tend to obscure the common features that unite the people of the region. Principal among these commonalities is the tradition of Theravadin Buddhism, which is the form practiced and which places particular emphasis of the role of monks and the importance of doing virtuous works as part of the process of spiritual development that will eventually lead towards nirvana. Linguistic differences across borders are mediated by the underlying reliance on the Pali language, which is used to record and transmit Buddhist teachings. Many cross-border activities take place on an informal basis in which individual learn how to communicate with each other. One aspect of this is travel for pilgrimage and knowledge-seeking purposes, both monks and lay people cross the borders concerned, although little research has been conducted into this form of tourism. Using personal interviews of people concerned, this research study has been intended to delineate the extent to which these kinds of cross-border movements take place, their impacts in terms of improving social relations and economic growth and, also, the opportunities for enhancing educational opportunities for those involved.
Keywords: Buddhism, cross-border travel, Mekong Region, Thailand.
An early view of my review of Pattana Kitiarsa’s Monks, Mediums, and Amulets: Thai Popular Buddhism Today has been published. It will appear in the Special Supplementary Issue of the SIU Journal of Management (Vol.3, No.S1, April, 2013).
Read the full review here.
Paper to be presented at the forthcoming SIU Conference on January 30th-31st, 2013 by Phramaha Min Putthithanasombat and John Walsh.
Abstract:
It is important to note that managing an international workforce requires teamwork, especially when there are multiple ethnicities, nationalities and representatives of different cultures working together on the same project. Not only is it necessary to consider the principles of general management in this respect but also international labour analysis and good governance policy will be required in order to implement management systems properly Moreover, abiding by the laws and regulations in a particular country in a transparent manner, following the principles of morality and ethical practices and providing the international workers with a chance of participating in decision-making and taking responsibility for the organization are also vital factors in international labour management. In one particular organization in Thailand, international workers from Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia are Buddhists. Data from focus groups, interviews and direct observation indicated that the ability and willingness of the business owners to provide an appropriate level of remuneration, full service room and board and other necessary facilities including supportive efforts from entrepreneurs will all have an impact on the performance of employees. Getting these issues right is likely to lead to the inspiration of loyalty and commitment from employees which will increase their competencies and their performance at work as a whole. This paper reports on research conducted into the international labour management system evident in a service industry organization in Thailand according to the Buddhist perspectives basing on Sanghavutthudhamma 4 and Disa 6, which are foundational principles of basic Buddhism in living and working together. The findings from this study will be drawn upon and recommendations made as a result for good governance in human resource management.
Keywords: Buddhist Perspective, Labour Management, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, Thailand
Another paper to be presented at the forthcoming SIU International Conference at the end of January and written and presented by Petcharat Lovichakorntikul and myself. Here is the abstract:
The concept and practice of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has recently become more important in Thailand. Many businesses have concentrated more closely on their image and on establishing a good reputation. As is the case with Thai society overall, the majority of the people involved are Buddhists. Consequently, Thai people have been influenced by Buddhism and are familiar with giving and sharing, which are compatible with CSR contexts. This study will present the CSR projects that have been implemented in two Thai hospitals established in the 1990s. With their clear and transparent policies, they have created good corporate governance not only for their staff members but also for sustainable society. Outcomes from the management approaches employed both in theory and in practice are congruent with the dhamma (Buddha’s teachings). In fact, they have been performing these kinds of CSR projects since they first set up their firms, before the CSR scheme became well-known in Thailand. During the flood crisis in Thailand in 2011, one of the hospitals was flooded but the other one was operating normally; they both provided significant help to their staff members, clients, disaster victims and society at large. This study is a qualitative research method exploring how local Thai healthcare businesses pursue CSR programs by apply dhamma sermons from Buddhism to everyday working life. The findings from this research study rest upon personal in-depth interviews and focus group interviews from top executive management levels, Human Resource managers, and operational staff of the Samrong General Hospital and Vibhavadi Hospital. Data were collected from semi-structured interviews of the participants, both selectively and randomly. Body language and observation were also used to triangulate the data in this study. Discussions and conclusions were addressed in this research as well. It is hoped that the findings will make a significant contribution understanding CSR as it is practiced in a Buddhist context in Thailand.
Here is another abstract for a paper that I hope will be presented at the SIU Conference in January.
Social Entrepreneurship, Environmentalism and Personal Commitment to Change
Abstract
The GREEN LIVING venture includes multimedia support for a popular campaign aimed at encouraging awareness of global climate change and affecting behaviour with the motto ‘Do a little thing, make a better world.’ This is an example of social entrepreneurship that arose from a regular entrepreneurial business and was created as the result of personal commitment to change exhibited by the founder (Ms. Warita Sinthuyont). In this paper, the founder of GREEN LIVING reflects on her personal philosophy, which contains elements of Buddhism, environmentalism and self-empowerment. This philosophy is compared with the philosophies more commonly attached to entrepreneurs and subsequent analysis highlights the need to integrate different approaches towards creating social and commercial organizations into the understanding of the nature of contemporary entrepreneurs.
Warita Sinthuyont and John Walsh
Reincarnation is an important part of Buddhist philosophy but it is not always a simple or rewarding process. The soul, once freed of its physical burden, is taken to meet the Yama Kings of Hell (this is the version that I most commonly hear – other versions are available) to be chastised for sins committed during the previous lifetime.
Read the full review here.
Congratulations to K Petcharat, who has now successfully presented: Lovichakorntikul, Petcharat and John Walsh, “Buddhist Social Work: A Case Study of the Samrong General Hospital,” paper presented at the International Buddhist Conference (Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University, Ayutthaya: December 2011), available at: http://www.undv.org/vesak2012/iabudoc/03PetcharatFINAL.pdf.
Abstract:
Human Resource Development (HRD) is a crucial element in contemporary organizations and determines their future to a significant extent, especially in the healthcare business, which has been changing and developing according to emerging trends such as the problems of insufficiency and the inequitable distribution of healthcare professionals, as well as certain morality and ethical issues. While the public perception is that healthcare professionals who are working to heal patients and save lives must have kind and generous minds, this is not always the case and, in HRD, it remains necessary to develop the minds, attitudes and perceptions of healthcare professionals to be ready to serve others. Many Thai people are very familiar with Buddhism because most ceremonies and ways of life are related to Buddhist cultural practices. Buddhist teachings are implanted into their minds as well as the understanding that their ancestors followed the same methods and principles. Some believe that the nature of belied is changing along with changes in contemporary society, which privileges material goods above spiritual ones. In response, it is necessary to reinvigorate Dhamma teaching so that it speaks more clearly to present generations. This research is, therefore, based on certain Buddhist ethical principles, such as the five precepts (Pañcasīla), the basis of success (Iddhipada 4), the sublime states of mind (Brahmavihāra 4), and meditation. These have been implemented in a Samut Prakan province hospital since its inception. Hospital founders concentrated on creating ethical and potential human resources rather than creating task specific activities. This is a qualitative research study featuring management level and operational level employees in in-depth face-to-face interviews together with a focus group with relevant participants exploring the Buddhist social work scheme in this hospital. Findings and recommendations from the research are presented.
Announcing: Lovichakorntikul, Petcharat and John Walsh, “Buddhist Social Work: A Case Study of the Samrong General Hospital,” paper presented at the International Buddhist Conference (Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University, Ayutthaya: December 2011), available at: http://www.undv.org/vesak2012/iabudoc/03PetcharatFINAL.pdf.
(I don’t think I have advertised this before.)
Abstract (actually they prefer ‘Prelude’):
Human Resource Development (HRD) is a crucial element in contemporary organizations and determines their future to a significant extent, especially in the healthcare business, which has been changing and developing according to emerging trends such as the problems of insufficiency and the inequitable distribution of healthcare professionals, as well as certain morality and ethical issues. While the public perception is that healthcare professionals who are working to heal patients and save lives must have kind and generous minds, this is not always the case and, in HRD, it remains necessary to develop the minds, attitudes and perceptions of healthcare professionals to be ready to serve others. Many Thai people are very familiar with Buddhism because most ceremonies and ways of life are related to Buddhist cultural practices. Buddhist teachings are implanted into their minds as well as the understanding that their ancestors followed the same methods and principles. Some believe that the nature of belied is changing along with changes in contemporary society, which privileges material goods above spiritual ones. In response, it is necessary to reinvigorate Dhamma teaching so that it speaks more clearly to present generations. This research is, therefore, based on certain Buddhist ethical principles, such as the five precepts (Pañcasīla), the basis of success (Iddhipada 4), the sublime states of mind (Brahmavihāra 4), and meditation. These have been implemented in a Samut Prakan province hospital since its inception. Hospital founders concentrated on creating ethical and potential human resources rather than creating task specific activities. This is a qualitative research study featuring management level and operational level employees in in-depth face-to-face interviews together with a focus group with relevant participants exploring the Buddhist social work scheme in this hospital. Findings and recommendations from the research are presented.
Abandoned by his mother, who is unable to provide for him in a Vietnam riven by the grim struggle against colonialism, Quang van Nguyen is adopted by an elderly Buddhist doctor who specializes in Chinese style medicine, mixed with a variety of animist practices and with the aptitude to take care of all the people he comes across in an itinerant lifestyle. The doctor becomes a father to young Quang and encourages him to follow in his footsteps as a barefoot doctor, one who aims to possess nothing but who will occasionally accept gifts and hospitality from grateful patients.
Read the full review here.
