The Guidelines for Promoting Buddhist Faith and Devotion through the Belief in Nāga among Buddhists in Nong Khai Province DOI:

Abstract

This research, entitled “Guidelines for Promoting Faith in Buddhism through Naga Beliefs among Buddhists in Nong Khai Province,” aims to: study the faith in Buddhism as expressed through Naga beliefs among Buddhists in Nong Khai Province; examine the approaches for promoting faith in Buddhism through Naga beliefs among Buddhists in Nong Khai Province; and propose guidelines for enhancing faith in Buddhism through Naga beliefs among Buddhists in Nong Khai Province. This study employs a qualitative research methodology, consisting of a review of relevant academic documents and field data collection through in-depth interviews with 17 key informants selected by purposive sampling. The findings revealed that: 1) Faith in Buddhism as expressed through the belief in the Naga among Buddhists in Nong Khai Province is rooted in Buddhist traditions and local Mekong River folklore, such as the legend of Phaya Sri Sutho Nakaraj and the Naga Fireball phenomenon. These beliefs reflect communal unity and devotion to the Triple Gem. 2) Guidelines for promoting faith through the belief in the Naga include the use of Naga symbolism as a medium for Dhamma propagation, the organization of religious and cultural activities, and the development of learning centers to foster accurate understanding and cultivate faith grounded in wisdom. 3) Regarding the integrative framework, the researcher synthesized the findings into the “NAGA Model,” a holistic process for faith development. In this model, the Naga serves as a central spiritual symbol connecting the human world with the Dhamma. The model consists of: (1) N – Nurture Belief: Cultivating faith as the foundation of belief in Buddhism; (2) A – Adorn Tradition: Preserving and promoting the Naga Fireball tradition; (3) G – Grow Culture: Developing culture based on Buddhist principles and local wisdom; (4) A – Attract Tourism: Promoting religious and cultural tourism.