The thesis has 3 objectives : 1) to study the concept of the precepts in Theravada Buddhism,  2) to study the understanding of the precepts  of  the people in Samrong    Sub – district, Samrong District, Ubon Ratchathani Province, and 3) to study guidelines on promoting the precept observations of the people in the area. It is a documentary and field research by gathering data that can be chronologically concluded as the following:

The study found that the precepts in Buddhist principle are the practices for controlling physical and verbal acts of humans that they can be honest in physical, verbal and livelihood manner. There are 3 methods of observing the precepts: 1) Samtatta - viratti: abstinence as occasion arises; 2) Samadana – viratti: abstinence in accordance with one’s observances; and 3) Samuccheda – viratti; abstinence by rooting out all evils. There are 3 levels of the precepts; 1) Cula - sila; the basic precepts; 2) Majjhima- Sila; the intermediate precepts; and 3) Maha - sila; the great precepts. The advantages of the precept observations are in 5 areas; 1) being wealthy; 2) being reputable; 3) being courageous; 4) being mindfully dead; and 5)  being born in blissful states. The harms of offenses against the precepts are in 5 areas; 1) losing wealth ; 2) having a bad reputation; 3)being discouraged; 4) being mindlessly dead; and 5) being born in woeful states. Beliefs in the precept observations are based in 3 areas; 1) being born in heavens; 2) being wealthy; and 3) attaining enlightenment. There are 4 components of the precept observations including; 1) giving or chaity; 2) studying Dhamma; 3) listening to Dhamma teaching; and 4) practicing Dhamma.

In the area of understanding the precept of the people in Samrong Sub-district, Samrong District, Ubon Ratchathani Province, it has been found that the people in the area understand the precepts in the following areas; 1) the way of living following the precepts; 2) practical steps in observing the precepts; 3) the will of observing the precepts; 4) Buddha Dhamma in observing the precepts; 5) the code of conduct of laymen with regard to Buddhist monks; and 6) social problems from offenses against the precepts of the people in Samrong Sub - district.

  The guidelines on promoting the precept observation of the people in Samrong Sub - district, Samrong District, Ubon Rachathani Province can be classified into 3 levels; 1) family level; 2) community level; and 3) society level.

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