The Role of Monks in Changing and Promoting Morality Today

Abstract

This study investigates the role of Buddhist monks in promoting morality and ethics in Thai society amid rapid transformations in the digital age. It emphasizes the significance of monastic adaptation to modern technologies while preserving core Buddhist moral principles. The findings reveal that monks play a proactive role in utilizing digital technologies to disseminate Buddhist teachings and provide psychological and spiritual counseling through online platforms, thereby expanding outreach and enhancing the effectiveness of moral promotion in contemporary society. Furthermore, monks contribute to fostering social cohesion in a multicultural context by encouraging acceptance of diversity, compassion, and peaceful coexistence. At the individual level, the promotion of daily Buddhist practices—such as meditation, observance of precepts, and cultivation of wisdom—significantly enhances personal well-being and supports the development of a morally grounded and harmonious society. However, addressing inappropriate conduct among monks requires collaborative mechanisms involving multiple stakeholders, including educational development, institutional regulation, and systemic support to ensure adherence to ethical standards.

The study contributes to the body of knowledge by proposing an integrative framework that balances technological engagement with Buddhist moral principles. This framework serves as a key mechanism for strengthening ethical values in Thai society, as well as for developing systemic collaboration to enhance monastic standards, restore public trust, and reinforce the stability of Buddhism as a social institution in the long term.