Application of the Five Powers Principles to Strengthen the Community of Atsaphone District, Savannakhet Province, Lao People’s Democratic Republic

Abstract

This thesis had three objectives: 1) to study the concepts and theories of community strengthening in Atsaphone District, Savannakhet Province, Lao People’s Democratic Republic; 2) to study the Five Powers in Theravada Buddhism; and 3) to analyze the application of the Five Powers in strengthening the community. This qualitative study emphasized documentary research and field research through in-depth interviews with 13 key informants: five Buddhist monks, four community leaders, and four Theravada Buddhist scholars. Data were analyzed using content analysis and presented descriptively. The findings revealed that community strengthening involves participation in self-management across four dimensions: self-management, social capital and participation, learning and local wisdom, and psychological and cultural dimensions. The Five Powers comprise faith, effort, mindfulness, concentration, and wisdom. Their application promotes solidarity, diligence, rational conflict reduction, stable goal-oriented community activities, and appropriate decisions that integrate local wisdom with new knowledge.