Abstract

The purposes of this study were 1) to study the principle of Buddhist ethical    in Theravăda Buddhism, 2) to study ethical development in Theravăda Buddhism            of first meditation center of Phrae Province (Dhammayuta), Wiangthong temple, Songmen District, Phrae Province  and 3) to study the guideline of ethical development in Theravăda Buddhism of first meditation center of Phrae Province (Dhammayuta), Wiangthong temple, Songmen District, Phrae Province. This research was a qualitative research by studying from documentary research and in-depth interview from the sample group who came to practice meditation in first meditation center of Phrae Province (Dhammayuta),Wiangthong temple, Songmen District,  Phrae Province and focus groups discussion of five experts.

The results of this study were found that ;

1. The ethics in Theravada Buddhism have 3 levels nemly 1) the primary ethical development would abstain from the bad action, speech was Panca-sila (five precepts). Sila means normal in physical and speech, people who refused to five precepts would abstain from desires.  Panca-sila (five precepts) are the basic of all Sila. 2) The middle principle of ethical development is the principle that people should practice because there is some reason in their self. The middle principles are the practice principle that high more than the basic principles that are 10 Akusala-kammapatha. 3) The high principle of ethical development are the principles and the methods to practice for the enlightenment. The practitioner had to depend on the more intelligence and the effort to successful in the aim that is the four Noble Truths.

2. Ethical development in Theravăda Buddhism of the first meditation center of Phrae Province (Dhammayuta),Wiangthong temple, Songmen District, Phrae Province was found that the first meditation center of Phrae Province (Dhammayuta), Wiangthong temple used the Threefold training to ethical development of practitioners were training in higher morality, training in higher mentality, and training in higher wisdom. Practitioners used the morality to develop ethic as Sila, and there were preserved five precepts and in the Buddhist holiday such as Magha Puja Day, Visakha Puja Day, Atthami Puja Day, Asalha Puja Day and there were some activities were: 1) to preserve the five precepts in Buddhist holy day. 2) Chanting in the Buddhist holy day. 3) Campaign to preserved five precepts and released some fishes and animals. 4) Training ethics to stop doing bad and developing some ethical as the mentality 1) doing activities by training and practice meditation for practitioner every Buddhist holy day. Ethical developments as wisdom by activities were trained to practitioner to understand the right practice. 2) Using the amplifier to explain about the methods to practice meditation to practitioners every morning and evening. 3) Arranging the practitioners to practice by themselves because practitioners would be skillful on the meditation. practice 4) Emotional of practitioners about meditation for created intelligence. The result of Sila development was to augment the precept interest in chanting, can preserved some precepts and decreased the desire. As the result of concentration development was after finish training practice meditation can practice by oneself and as the result of wisdom developments were understanding the right principles from training and listening Dhama talk everyday so it created to intelligence  and apply to daily life and solved some suffering.

3. The guidelines of ethical development of the first meditation center of Phrae Province (Dhammayuta),Wiangthong temple should have some policies about ethical development for practitioners in the first meditation center of Phrae Province (Dhammayuta),Wiangthong temple include other Sangha in this area. It should focus on

creating knowledge as Buddhism, Vipassana Meditation, course, methods, to apply for ethic development of people, Vipassana monks, and practitioner in organization for permanence in the ethical development.

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