This qualitative research has three objectives: 1) to study the development of Thai Sangha’s Pali Studies, 2) to study the desirable roles of the graduates of 9th grade of Pali Studies and 3) to study the direction of development of the graduates of Pali IX in the next decade. This is a research with documentary method by interviewing with 12 key informances.
The results of the research showed that:
The Pali Studies of Thai sangha originated from Srilanka at the time of the King Parakkamabahu. It was taken to Thailand in Sukhothai period during The reign of The King Ramkhamhaeng and was gradually developed to be Thai sangha’s Pali Studies. In the early Ayutthaya period, it did not appear since it was not under the royal patronage. Then It appeared again at the time of King Narai the great and continuously developed in the Thonburi and Rattanakosin period. The studies was divided into 9 grades at the time of the King Rama II in that Rattanakosin period and later became contemporary curriculum as in the present time.
The desirable roles were divided into two parts. Firstly, there were six roles in Sangha, some of which were suitable for the monks who finished Pali Studies of IX grade. For example, the role in religious studies. All of the mentioned roles require more graduates still Meanwhile . Secondly, there were the other roles that need to be supported by the monks who finished 9th grade of Pali Studies in secular society. There are three outstanding roles which are education, governance and culture and tradition.
In the next decade, the society will have to be changed into many ways; therefore, the qualification of graduated monks as Pali Studies Grade IX is not sufficient for the social changing, so the four ways to improve these main parts are 1) To bring all the religious knowledge to be more deeply understanding 2)To create new knowledge in accordance with the society nowadays 3) To gather all old and new knowledge for its integration 4) To apply for and create new technological skills effectively.
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