The Guideline for Morality Cultivation of Youth at Phuttabutra Moral Training Center, Wat Nongloeng, Kham Khuean Kaeo District, Yasothon Province

Abstract

The aims of this research were: 1) to study the problematic conditions of the youth in the present; 2) to study the dhamma principles for morality cultivation of youth; 3) to study the guideline for morality cultivation of youth at the Phuttabutra Moral Training center, Wat Nongloeng, Kham Khuean Kaeo district, Yasothon province. This study was carried out by means of the qualitative research methodology conducted by fieldwork, in-depth interview to obtain the empirical data. The research results revealed that the problematic conditions of the youth in the present can be seen in four aspects: gratitude, discipline, harmony and duties and responsibility. The principles that are used in the cultivation of morality for youth are: the five precepts that are basic ethics and principles for the young practitioners to remain in good deeds and improve their quality of life to the highest goal of life; Sangahavatthu-dhamma causing the youth to be generous, polite, voluntary for social development, adaptable and to work together happily; the four Iddhipada-dhamma principles is a virtue that helps people to practice successfully in various tasks. The guideline for morality cultivation of youth at Phuttabutra Moral Training center, is divided into 4 areas: gratitude, there are activities that raise the awareness of benefactors, such as the candlelight activities for mothers, making young people feel grateful to benefactors, the rob offering ‘for eliminating defilement’ activity to guide them to give back to their benefactors; discipline, using eating activities develops the youth in terms of punctuality, disciplinary, and adaptability to changes in the environment; harmony, applying Sangahavatthu-dhamma and activity of thought-chart presentation encourage young people practice unity collaboration, resulting work success according to the principles of Iddhipada-dhamma; duties and responsibility, the rob offering ‘for eliminating defilement’ activity allows youth an opportunity to confess their past mistakes and to make an intention to do good deeds in the future. The guidelines for cultivating moral in all 4 areas of the youth conduct are in the framework of the five precepts that are not to encroach the others and oneself.