The Application Principles of Buddhist Ethics in the Social Work

Abstract

The objectives of this reseaech were; 1) to study the concept and theory of social work, 2) to study Buddhist ethics, and 3) to apply the principles of Buddhist ethics in social work. The data of this documentary research were collected from the Tipitaka, textbooks, research works, and related documents and then analyzed and summarized into the findings.

The results of the study were found that:

1. Social work is to help people, community and society in troubles which cannot be able to help themselves by using the principle, method and social work process as well as concept and theory as the tools to explain the social problems, human behavior and human needs. Good social workers must have the ethics as their guideline in order to behave themselves in a good path.
2. Buddhist ethics is the doctrine in Buddhism concerning good behavior which was discovered by Lord Buddha. The ethics can be used to prevent and solve problems at the individual, community and social levels. The doctrines that can be applied in social work are four principles of Sangahavatthu, six principles of Saraniya Dhamma and four principles of Agati. Moreover, to follow the Buddhist ethics, human beings can improve their mental quality. The Buddhist ethics has judging criteria of human action.

3. The Buddhist ethics principles are necessary and important to social work because social workers play an important role in helping to their service recipients and target group as the individual, community and society levels. The Buddhist ethics can be applied in social work as the guideline in assisting people who have problems and in developing the community to create welfare and fairness in society.