Vulnerable Groups in the Buddharaksa Moral Community

This article redefines the concept of “Vulnerable Groups,” shifting away from the notion of weakness to emphasize those at risk of exclusion from rights they deserve. Drawing on the case of the Buddharaksa Moral Community, vulnerability is examined in both physical/legal dimensions (elderly, young children, persons with disabilities, low-income individuals, stateless persons) and social/identity-based dimensions (LGBTQ+ individuals, discriminated groups, school dropouts, those with mental health risks). Community recognition, such as the acceptance of a transgender woman serving as assistant village head, demonstrates that leadership capacity is not determined by gender or status but by responsibility toward the collective good. The article highlights that genuine equity emerges from nonjudgmental perspectives and systems that embrace diversity. The Buddharaksa Moral Community exemplifies how compassion can become a system and diversity can transform into a source of societal strength.