The Enhancing Model of Peace and Social Harmony of Kruba Saenglar’s Buddhist roles in Kengtung, Myanmar

This dissertation is a study of the enhancing model of peace and social harmony of Kruba Saenglar’s Buddhist roles in Kengtung, Myanmar. It has three objectives: 1) To study the Buddha’s teaching and practices in order to enhance peace and social harmony; 2) To analyze Kruba Saenglar’s roles as a Buddhist leader of peace and social harmony in Kengtung, Myanmar; 3) To propose and develop enhancing model of peace and social harmony in Kengtung, Myanmar according to Kruba Saenglar’s roles; it is a qualitative and field research, it draws on documents, in including the Tipitaka, Buddhist textbooks, research works and journals including local language book, together with in-depth interviews conducted with three groups of key informants total of 19 people: Peace and Buddhist scholars/experts, leaders and disciples , and a discussion among Buddhist scholars, social working and administrative scholars.

The research findings are as follows: Buddha's teachings about enhancement of peace and social harmony initiate from the practice of self-development to achieve peace with the four foundations of mindfulness on body, sensation, mind and phenomena. When people already have inner peace for benefit of others, they seek many methods to understand others, community, and society through the Sappurisadhamma consisting of knowing the cause, the purpose, oneself, how to be temperate, the proper time, the society and finally the different individuals. Consequently, people can apply the principle of welfare to be useful to assist each other and able to live together in society with peace and respect each other with bases of sympathy comprise charity, convincing speech, useful conduct, and participation and behaving oneself properly in all circumstances, which can make oneself and society mutually support each other. It is the way of the emergence of peace and social harmony.

Phra Kruba Saenglar is a promoter of peace and social harmony in various parties concerning four cultivations: physical, moral, emotional, and intellectual development consisting of 1) Religion and monastery sector 2) Language (Script) sector 3) Cultural and traditional sector 4) Education sector 5) Sector of welfare for society 6) Peacemaking and countries spiritual leader sector.

The enhancing model of peace and social harmony of Kruba Saenglar is the application of the Buddha’s teaching integrated with the SDGs to bring people together in respect and mutual assistance in a constructive and connected procedure according to the middle path which has the right view of the truth to emphasize the benefits of oneself and others as the main core or it can be said that one is happy, worthy for others, and the society is peaceful and calm. For this reason, the key components are called “Saenglar Model” which comprise Spirit (S), Activeness (A), Effort (E), Network (N), Generosity (G), Liberation (L), Attitude (A), and Realization (R), with its aim to enhance people to reach peace and social harmony.

Phra Kruba Saenglar Buddhist monk’s role is not only leading to peace directly but also bringing society to be unity which can make people who have various races, languages, sects and cultures, mutually live peacefully creatively and sustainably.