The Principle of Leadership in the Pali Canon

EasyChair Preprint 2479

Abstract

Leadership was defined as the art of government, which meant that a good leader was able to take his organization to desired goals. As well, being a good leader was focused on a broad-minded person to accept other’s different ideas, including constant changes.

Threat, based on power, was not a good way for a good leader to order and control his subordinates, but the rule of law principle together with the principle of political science was regarded as the leader’s tool of government. At the same time, the Buddhist principle of two virtues to protect the world; shamefulness and fearfulness, was embraced to control his mind and the principle of four biases was refrained for justification or fairness in government. In addition, the principle of four holy abidings was utilized as a link in order to resort government to desired goals.

Ten characteristics -- bravery, human relationship, ability of motivation, higher responsibility, complexity and decisiveness, proficiency, coordination, enthusiasm, ability to work with others, and respectability  -- would belong to a good leader.

Besides the above mentioned, leadership is inferred to desired traits of a ruler at present. It was related to an attempt of a person, not a gift, collected from experiences. A good leader had to be endowed with capability to integrate the government principle with the Buddhist principles to control his mind at an appropriate level. So, a good ruler should be superior to other people in terms of his behavior and become a role model for all his subordinates. At the same time, he would consist of characters of a lion, which were magnificence, tremendousness, and reliability, and behave himself in the principle of ten virtues of a ruler. In conclusion, leadership was comprised of the principle in self-control, man administration and work management for further government goals. 

Keyphrases: การปกครอง, ทศพิธราชธรรม, ประมุขศิป์, พรหมวิหาร, พระสุตตันตปิฎก, พระไตรปิฎก, อคติ, โลกบาลธรรม

@booklet{EasyChair:2479,
  author    = {Satitt Kromthong and Techatat Paksangkhane and Padit Srinonyang},
  title     = {The Principle of Leadership in the Pali Canon},
  howpublished = {EasyChair Preprint 2479},
  year      = {EasyChair, 2020}}