The Promotion of Family Members’ Desirable Behaviors by Uposathasīla Observation of Buddhist Community in Khon Kaen Municipality

Abstract

The aims of this research were: 1) to study the co-existence behavior of family in the Buddhist community in the Khon Kaen Municipality; 2) to promote the co-existence of the family in the Buddhist community in the Khon Kaen Municipality by using the Uposathasīla (eight precepts) observation; 3) to propose the desirable cohabitation behavior of Buddhist communities in the Khon Kaen Municipality by using the Uposathasīla (eight precepts) observation. This study was carried out by the qualitative research methodology. The field work was conducted in 5 Buddhist communities in the Khon Kaen Municipality. namely Wat That community. Nong Waeng community. Wat Pho Non Than community. Wat Wutharam community and Wat Srinuan community. The target group was 60 people involved with the Uposathasīla observation. selected by purposive sampling. The data in the field study were obtained by using structured interviews and then analyzed. 

            The research results were as follows:

1) The majority of those who come to observe the Uposathasīla in Khon Kaen Municipality were elderly. The conflicts within their family members sometimes have been found and most of the conflicts have been solved based on the Buddhist methods. 

2) The Buddhist communities in the Khon Kaen Municipality supported the observation of the Uposathasīla observation by providing convenience to those who come to observe the Uposathasīla while the temples organized the activities such as chanting. loving kindness spreading. meditation. walking meditation. giving a sermon to those who come. This caused them to be happy. calm and joyful. This gave a positive effect to the practitioners and surrounding people.

3) The desirable behavior can be adjusted by using the Uposathasīla observation. This resulted in physical behaviors that is polite. docile and courteous acts. polite and honestly speaking. In terms of the mind. it is cheerful. relaxed. optimistic to the world. unattached to ownerships. braved in socialization because having the precepts is the good sample of people in the family and society.