THE LEARNING CONTEXT OF THE 21ST CENTURY AND THE ROLE OF BUDDHIST MONKS IN PROPAGATING BUDDHISM

Abstract

This article aims to explain the learning context of the 21st century together with the role of Buddhist monks in disseminating Buddhism. It is grounded in the fact that the digital world has rapidly transformed people’s perception, communication, and learning behaviors. Preserving the value of the Dhamma therefore requires an integration of core Buddhist principles with modern learning innovations, under the framework of the monastic discipline and the collaboration of the four Buddhist communities. The article synthesizes historical lessons from the First Sermon to the Buddhist Councils, as well as the expansion of Buddhism into Suvarnabhumi, in order to highlight models of communication that are concise, clear, outcome-oriented, and transformative, while maintaining accuracy of content and adherence to the monastic code.

The proposed framework consists of four key dimensions of the role of monks in the modern era:

(1) Spiritual leaders and teachers of society, who elevate media literacy, morality, and wisdom;

(2) Designers of experiential learning, who transform Dhamma principles into short, concise, participatory, measurable activities that suit learners’ dispositions;

(3) Public communicators, who utilize social media, podcasts, livestreams, websites, applications, and multilingual content to expand accessibility without compromising the essence of the Dhamma; and

(4) Network facilitators, who build Buddhist social networks connecting temples, schools, universities, communities, the business sector, and international partners.

Thus, adopting good practices serves as the driving mechanism—by transforming tacit knowledge into manuals, teaching materials, and databases; establishing indicators of behavioral, social, and mental outcomes; implementing continuous improvement cycles; and cultivating a culture of lifelong learning. The article concludes that the success of Buddhist dissemination in the 21st century lies in integrating Dhamma and technology under the monastic discipline, with monks serving as key leaders linking the four Buddhist communities for the welfare and happiness of the public.