THICH GIAC HIEP Ph. D.
Vietnam Buddhist University, VIETNAM

Key words: dissemination, qualified propagator, education, finance, modern technology, remote area, charity.

I. INTRODUCTION:

This article provides some essential factors that a propagator should know in order to disseminate Dhamma successfully and efficaciously.

After attained perfect enlightenment, the Buddha hesitated to preach the doctrine that he just realized. He feared that the common people might neither understand nor accept, it may be a vast of time and energy. Out of compassion for beings, the Buddha preached his doctrine, setting the Wheel of the Law in motion. For us, propagators, it is difficult to convinced beings, if we are not qualified. A propagator should know some factors as follow:

II. ESSENTIAL FACTORS:

1. Qualified propagator:

A propagator should be educated and then educate the masses to do in accordance with true Dhamma. Education is the most important and efficacy means which can change one’s view and transform the society to the perfect level. Education purifies one mind and develops the society. Buddhism plays an important role in education because it meets these two demands. The aim of disseminating Dhamma is to master people and develop society.
To disseminate Dhamma successfully, we need the propagators who educated and well equipped with canonical subjects and non-canonical subjects. We do not have enough qualified propagators. Maybe we have enthusiastic propagators but they have not been well equipped. Moreover, the Buddhist educational systems in many countries are backward. So they can not catch up with the scientific development. For this reason they could not produce a human resource to meet the needs of the vast multitude, guiding them to understand and practice the sublime Dhamma. However, in some developed countries, Buddhist educational system well equipped. The propagators should know innovative methods of propagating Dhamma to meet the contemporary needs. The propagators should have the following characters: (1)
- Ethics
- Knowledge, understanding the tradition, customs, local dialects
- Acquiring complete knowledge and skill in language
- Understanding the audience

2. Financial support

Finance has done great work. During Buddha life time, some main factors contributed to the propagating Dhamma successfully were the support of businessman and government. Finance is needed to disseminate Dhamma and establish foundations. Sometimes, having good ideas and projects but facing financial problem, procedure can not be carried out. If we lose the active support of the rulers, wealthy people, we face many difficulties in propagation. Some modern scholars think, “…decline in the royal patronage of Buddhism is the most important cause for the disappearance of Buddhism in India.” (2)

So we secure sympathy and support from government, wealthy people in order to expand Buddhism. At the same time, we also create our own financial resource in case the supporters bankrupt. With finance and enthusiastic propagators, Buddhism will flourish everywhere.

3. Applying modern technology

To spread the Dhamma worldwide, the propagators should know how to take the advantage of the modern technology, to create the opportunity for others. Internet development brings people around the world together, only one touch we can communicate each other. In the modern time, if we can not catch up with the others, we are backward.

Propagators use all skill means which they have, using advertisement, publishing, and internet. Especially, the internet became more dominant in the 1990s. The user was not only the receiver of information but could be a provider. It is better to construct a website, establishing a “cyber” community of Buddhists, using the internet as a primary tool for disseminating Dhamma. The web allowed greater diversity opinions to reach people around the world. Sometimes, the web serves both academic and lay readers. Internet radio is also a way to communicate the lectures and chanting. (3)

4. Aiming at the remote countryside

The society develops so fast. There are many useless entertainments which attract the young. Young generation rushes to material life, forgets the spiritual life.(4)Materialism destroys good traditions, even people in remote countryside. How to instruct the young to know the danger of temporary pleasures, and how to lead them to the spiritual life is the important task of the propagators. Living for others, altruism, selflessness, sympathy, is the way of Buddhists. Buddhists are living and acting for the benefice of others. Buddha’s life is an example, leaving the palace, leaving the world for religious life, for the happiness of others. Following the Buddha’s footsteps, the propagators should revitalize the Dhamma to many people. Especially, people in remote countryside, they need the light of wisdom. Most of them live in very simple and backward life, bad conditions, often contacting with heroin, smuggle, the cause of crime and bad habit. Life is not comfortable. They need both material and mental life. Propagators should provide them with opportunity to get in touch with the modern technology, the methods to earn living, the way to live peacefully.

In the field of charity, there are many things to do:
- Providing free medical care
- Building classrooms
- Developing water resources
- Setting up charitable foundations
Giving material and spiritual is the Buddhist practice. Material and spiritual meet the needs of people in the remote countryside. After they receive material they also receive training. For a stable development, we create a community which is ready to help each other in the difficult situation.


III. CONCLUSION:

The tasks of propagators are giving people confidence, happiness, hope and convenience, making Dhamma accessible and adaptable to people, helping the needy to overcome the difficult situations. Disseminating Dhamma is to stabilize the society to purify human’s mind, the ideal of Buddhism. This ideal has been transmitted from generation to generation with the hope establishing a world with harmony, happiness. Propagating in modern time, monks should be well equipped with knowledge in many fields, so that they can catch up with the development of the world. If we spread the Dhamma widely, to the vast multitude, people have chance to follow and practice. Superstitious, wrong believe and practice will be washed away. People live in a peaceful life, the society stabilizes. It is also the hope of many religious leaders.

References:

1. Ghosh, Suresh Chandra, The History of Education in Ancient India: c. 3000 BC to AD 1192, New Delhi: Munshinram Manoharlal Publishers, 2001.
2. Hazra, Kanai Lal., The Rise and Decline of Buddhism in India, New Delhi: Munshinram Manoharlal Publishers, 1988.
3. Egge, James R., Religious Giving and the Invention of Karma in Theravada Buddhism, London: RoutledgeCurzon, 2002.
4. Hardacre, Helen, Lay Buddhism in Contemporary Japan: Hardace, Reiyukai, New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 1984
5. Hiroichi Yamaguchi and Haruka Yanagisawa, ed. Tradition and Modernity: India and Japan towards the Twenty-First Century, New Delhi: Munshinram Manoharlal Publishers, 1997.
6. Lewis R. Lancaster. (2006) “Buddhist Education and Technology,” lecture. Huafan University

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(1) S.C. Ghosh, The History of Education in Ancient India: c. 3000 BC to AD 1192, (New Delhi: Munshinram Manoharlal Publishers, 2001), 50.
(2) K.L. Hazra, The Rise and Decline of Buddhism in India, (New Delhi: Munshinram Manoharlal Publishers, 1988), 393.
(3) R.L. Lewis. (2006) “Buddhist Education and Technology,” lecture. Huafan University
(4) Y. Hiroichi & Y. Haruka, ed. Tradition and Modernity: India and Japan towards the Twenty-First Century, (New Delhi: Munshinram Manoharlal Publishers, 1997), 111.