| Strategies to actualize the noble, people-centered development goals for Thailand based in the Philosophy of Sufficiency Economy have been carefully drafted by Thai policy makers. However, their own assessments reveal that such strategies have yielded at best minimal success.;This dissertation brings forward a new, innovative strategy—developing total brain functioning through Consciousness-Based education—and examines how this strategy can swiftly realize the Thai goals, ideal as they are.;To this end, this dissertation documents a clear picture of how Consciousness-Based education can powerfully support the actualization of the Thai goals. It considers Sufficiency Economy and Thai development plans in light of two ongoing Consciousness-Based education projects in Thailand that the author helped initiate, develop, and teach; how Consciousness-Based education develops total brain functioning; over 350 peer-reviewed studies conducted worldwide; and outcomes of Consciousness-Based education projects in other countries. Specifically, the dissertation discusses: • Thailand's development goals, based on Sufficiency Economy, that envision a nation whose citizens are free and happy; have sufficient food and comfort; are healthy, ethical, creative, and knowledgeable; participate in life-long learning; enjoy a prospering free-market economy; uphold traditional Thai values; preserve natural resources and improve the environment. Further, the nation is self-immune to fluctuations in global markets and internal and external conflicts; • how Consciousness-Based education develops total brain functioning, considering (a) theoretical knowledge of consciousness, (b) a practical technology to experience consciousness directly to wake up the total brain—the Transcendental Meditation technique—and, (c) innovative teaching methodologies; • how more than 350 research studies suggest that Consciousness-Based education can actualize specific Thai development goals; and • self-reports from the author's personal experience with Consciousness-Based education in Thailand, highlighting Dhammajarinee Witthaya secondary school and Department of Science of Creative Intelligence for Management, Rajapark Institute, including self-reports from students, faculty, parents, and administrators that illustrate the effectiveness of Consciousness-Based education in actualizing the Thai development goals.;In conclusion, this dissertation proposes future research and development of Consciousness-Based education in Thailand that includes creating a Consciousness-Based education institution in every province and assessing outcomes over five years using the Thai government's own standards. |
