An Approach Development Buddhist Well-Being Of The Olderly In Thanasin Village Buengkum District Bangkok

Abstract

The research “An Approach Development Buddhist  Well-Being of The Elderly in Thanasin Village Buengkum District Bangkok” consists of three main objectives: 1) to examine problems that affect the well-being of the elderly people in Thanasin Village, 2) to study the development approach of Buddhist based well-being and 3) to propose a practical Buddhist based well-being approach for the elderly in Thanasin village.This research paper entitled is a qualitative research by in-depth interviews with three Buddhist scholars and thirteen target groups. It reveals that 1) the elderly in Thanasin village generally have physical and mental health problems.Nevertheless, they have no problems relevant to social and intellectual well-being. 2) The Buddhist based well-being approach integrates the concept of Buddhist four Bhāvanā , which includes (1) Kāya Bhāvanā, (2) Sīla Bhāvanā, (3) Citta Bhāvanā and (4) Paññā Bhāvanā applied in the development of four aspects the well-being . 3) Applying the Buddhist based well-being approach to develop the well-being of the elderly in Thanasin village indicates that (1) Kāya Bhāvanā: the elderly should exercise by walking and doing meditation regularly, making use of modern technologies wisely, consuming all four life-factors with wisdom, and taking part in environmental protection in their community. (2) Sīla Bhāvanā: the elderly should keep the Buddhist five precepts, uphold the social rules and maintain social relationship and interaction. (3) Citta Bhāvanā: the elderly should strengthen their mind with Brahma Viharn (four divine states of dwelling), virtue and meditation (4) Paññā Bhāvanā: the elderly should gain various academic knowledge in order to improve their critical thinking and analysis as well as to be able to connect facts and ideas rationally. The elderly can also see the true nature of things and thus are more practical and effective in doing things.