A study of curriculum planning for buddhist adult education Abstract This study explored how to make curriculum planning for Buddhist adult education base on Buddhist education''s fundamental idea and enhance its quality to benefit society. Specifically, there were four purposes to guide this study: (1) investigating the basic connotations of Buddhist adult education; (2)analyzing various orientations and elements of curriculum planning; (3) understanding the current situation of curriculum planning for Buddhist adult education in Taiwan; and (4) presenting a fundamental idea, principles, elements and a developmental system of curriculum planning for Buddhist adult education. To fulfill the above purposes, the methodology used in this study included literature analysis and semi-structured interviews conducted in fifteen Buddhist institutions in Taiwan. There are four findings from the research: 1. Buddhist communities have played the role as providers of adult education for a long time. 2. Most Buddhist institutions in this study proceed curriculum planning based on the consideration of institutions'' major needs and resources. 3. Systematized and structured curriculum planning could stimulate adults'' motivation for learning. 4. Resources of teachers are among the critical factors in development of adult education. Based on the research purposes and findings, the study came to six conclusions as follows: 1. Adult education possesses a characteristic of richness and multiplicity. 2. Buddhist adult education develops its contents from and bases on belief in equality of all lives. 3. Adopting proper orientations for curriculum planning based on the current situation is necessary. 4. There exist multiple relationships of interacting, continuing, and responding among various elements in curriculum planning. 5. Due to individual differences, Buddhist institutions display different features in their curriculum planning. 6. Curriculum planning for Buddhist adult education should grasp its idea, principles, and major elements. According to the findings and conclusions, this study presents the following suggestions to Buddhist communities: 1. Enhance developing and conducting adult education to forllow the current educational needs. 2. Take account of multiple needs of different sectors in adult educaiton and thus adopt proper orientations in curriculum planning. 3. Strengthen training of teaching force for Buddhist adult education. 4. Apply holistic and systematic thinking to improving curriculum planning for Buddhist adult education.
