
The Significance of Buddhist Social Work: A Study on its Impact on Community Development and Social Justice
Abstract
Buddhism is a religion and way of life that emphasizes compassion, altruism, and ethical conduct. Buddhist teachings inspire individuals to work towards the betterment of society, including the poor, disadvantaged, and marginalized communities. In recent times, Buddhist social work has gained prominence as a means to promote community development and social justice. However, the impact and effectiveness of such social work interventions are yet to be systematically studied. This qualitative study aims to examine the importance of Buddhist social work in promoting community development and social justice. Using case studies and in-depth interviews with Buddhist social workers, community leaders, and beneficiaries of Buddhist social work programs, we explore the theoretical foundations of Buddhist social work and its relevance to contemporary social work practice. We also examine the impact of Buddhist social work on community development and social justice, and identify the challenges and opportunities in implementing Buddhist social work interventions. Thematic analysis is used to analyze the data and identify key themes and patterns. The findings of this research contribute to the literature on the importance of Buddhist social work in promoting community development and social justice. Our study provides insights into the effectiveness of Buddhist social work interventions, identifies key factors that influence its success, and highlights the challenges and opportunities in implementing such programs.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4038/jls.v6i2.11 | Journal eISSN: 2579-2156
Language: English
Page range: 95 - 113
Published on: Dec 31, 2022
Published by: Buddhist and Pali University of Sri Lanka
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Keywords:
© 2022 Ven. Rideegama Wanarathana, published by Buddhist and Pali University of Sri Lanka
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.