Enhancing Qualifications of Womenfolk in Thai Society according to the Five Precepts and the Five Ennobling Virtues

Abstract

This research aims; 1) to study the concept of the qualifications of womenfolk in Thai society, 2) to study the enhancement of the qualifications of womenfolk according to the principles of the Five Precepts and Five Ennobling Virtues, and 3) to present guidelines for the enhancement of the qualifications of Thai womenfolk according to the principles of the Five Precepts and Five Ennobling Virtues. This was qualitative using documentary survey and in-depth interviews with 24 key informants, including Buddhist experts, Buddhist morality teachers, morality teachers, parents, and female children and youth.

The research results found that 1) the concept of the qualifications of womenfolk in Thai society is based on the values ​​of Thai tradition and Buddhism, emphasizing that Thai women should be moral, gentle, hospitable, responsible, and know their roles as wives, mothers, and community members. 2) Strengthening the qualifications of a womenfolk according to the principles of the Five Precepts and Five Ennobling Virtues  showed that  Five Precepts play a role for preventing inappropriate behaviors, while the Five Ennobling Virtues play a role for promoting positive virtues such as kindness, honesty, and mindfulness, applied to develop young women to have ethics and self-discipline. 3) Guidelines for strengthening the qualifications of a Thai womenfolk according to the principles of the Five Precepts and Five Ennobling Virtues. The guidelines for sustainably strengthening the qualifications of Thai womenfolk should be based on the cooperation of three main institutions: home, temple, and school, by integrating the principles of Dhamma into learning activities, training, and daily behavior. The knowledge gained from the research is a guideline for strengthening womenfolk in Thai society according to the principles of the Five Precepts and Five Virtues, consisting of a 3-step process: 1) Principles for strengthening womenfolk in Thai society, 2) Methods using the principles of the Five Precepts and Five Virtues, and 3) Guidelines through cooperation of the ‘BWR’ institutions, namely home (Baan), temple (Wat), and school (Rongrian), to provide attention, all look after, and train children to gain knowledge and morality.