Bridging Dharma and Community : Exploring the Social Work Roles of Wat Banak Buddhist Temple in Cambodia

This ethnographic study investigates the evolving social work roles of Wat Banak, a Buddhist temple in Cambodia, within the context of Khmer Buddhism’s historical and cultural significance. Conducted over the course of one year, in the researcher’s native village, the study employed participant observation and in-depth interviews with monks, villagers, monastery members, and a school principal, alongside fieldnotes, transcripts, and artifacts. Data were analyzed thematically using Miles and Huberman’s coding techniques. The research highlights the temple’s multifaceted contributions to community well-being, including moral and ethical education, spiritual enhancement, cultural preservation, community cohesion, and social aid provision. By integrating Durkheim’s theory of religion and Giddens’ structuration theory, the study explores how Wat Banak adapts to modern societal needs while maintaining traditional values. The findings underscore the temple’s pivotal role in fostering social justice, mental health, and cultural identity, offering insights for policymakers and stakeholders to enhance the integration of Buddhist temples into Cambodia’s social work framework.