Theravada Buddhist Ideology in the Economic Behavior of the Khmers Ethnic in Binh Phuoc Province, Vietnam

Theravada Buddhism permeates all facets of Khmer culture and is the cornerstone of their ethnic identity. The purpose of livelihood is to ensure the continued existence of the human species. Within the religious community, Theravada Buddhism's ideology also has an impact on daily life. This article examines the impact of Theravada Buddhist philosophy on livelihood behavior of the Khmer people in Binh Phuoc Province, Vietnam, through the use of data from ethnographic methods of cultivation, such as attendance observations and in-depth interviews. The analysis's findings demonstrate that, in a strongly Buddhist society, the Law of Karma, right action, and right livelihood ideologies have an impact on the way of life of the Khmer people in Binh Phuoc. They must amass a great deal of blessings in order to have good karma, and blessings are obtained by leading moral lives and performing good deeds, such as making offerings. They did that by working honestly and meeting their obligations to provide for their families while avoiding hurting or upsetting other people. In a more subtle way, this helps to better their families' lives and foster community growth.