An analytical study of characteristics of the five precepts and moral standard of the disrobed in Thai society : a case study of the views of Buddhists in Bangkok
Abstract:
This qualitative research aims at studying the characteristics of the five precepts
and moral standards of the disrobed, the status of the disrobed and moral alterant factors,
and the views of Buddhists about characteristics of the disrobed at present. The population
consisted of 200 lay people who came to Wat Suthatthepwararam during January –
February 2003.
The results of the study were that the characteristics of the five precepts stress
abstaining from oppression and harassment; possessing kindness to human beings,
abstaining from theft and exploitation; respecting the property rights of others, abstaining
from misconduct and violation of others’ loved or cherished ones; not abusing them,
abstaining from lying and deception; speaking only the truth, and abstaining from alcohol
and intoxicants, which are causes for heedlessness and drunkenness of human beings.
From these it was determined that underlying all of the precepts was the most important of
moral judgment, intention.
The study found that there were two ways that a monk might be disrobed. The first
was simply by making a statement before a witness stating that the monk wished to leave
and the second being due to dismissal. Reasons for dismissal were due to morally alterant
factors, which were of internal and external nature. Internal factors are dominated by
sensuality, evils, and defilement, external factors are vulnerability to worldly materials.
And the result of the study, according to the third objective, showed that the
sampling group had positive views to the disrobed. They believed that most of the disrobed
would be able to forsake vices and become good men. The sampling group was certain that
all of the disrobed would later become good men.
It is suggested that knowledge and understanding about Buddhist ordination should
be promoted to lay people aiming at entering monkshood, because it is of the greatest level
of distress to practice or to elevate the spirit to become a good man. Therefore, people who
will be ordained would be more industrious and strictly observe religious precepts to
receive happiness or good life from the ordination forever.