Abstract:
The purpose of this quantitative study was to investigate behavior in keeping 5 Buddhist precepts among people living in so-called pioneer villages for five precepts, located in Amphoe Sa Kaeo, Sa Kaeo Province. Also, this study attempted to compare their behavior as classified by gender, age, educational level, occupation, and average amount of monthly salary. The subjects participating in this study were 400 residents, living in 8 so-called pioneer villages for 5 Buddhist precepts in Amphoe Sa Kaeo, Sa Kaeo Province. The instrument used to collect the data was a questionnaire. The statistical tests used to analyze the collected data included frequency, percentage, means, and standard deviation. The inferential statistics including t-test, One-way ANOVA were also operated. Lastly, Scheffe test was used to test the differences between pairs. The results of the study revealed that the subjects followed the 5 Buddhist precepts at a high level.Specifically, they rated their behavior in keeping the precept number 3-refraining from sexual misconduct at the highest level, followed by precept number 2-refraining from taking other peoples possession, precept number 5-refraining from takingintoxicants, precepts number 1-refraining from taking life, and precept number 4-refraining from lying, respectively. Based on the results from the comparison, it was shown that there were significant differences in behavior in keeping 5 Buddhist precepts in the so-called pioneer villages for 5 precepts located in Amphoe Sa Kaeo, Sa Kaeo Province among the subjects with different gender, age, educational level, occupation, and amount of monthly income at a significant level of 0.05.