A Way of Gratitude Cultivation for Living in the Buddhist Scriptures

Abstract

This research article was a part of a thesis entitled ‘A Way of Gratitude Cultivation for Living in the Buddhist Scriptures’ containing 3 objectives namely; 1) to study the meaning and significance of gratitude in Buddhist scriptures, 2) to study gratitude in the way of Buddhists in present social settings and, 3) to study the method of gratitude reinforcing for the leading of life in Thai society. This research is qualitative research.

From the research, it was found that gratitude is an important virtue for humans as the fundamental virtue. It creates a relationship of man in society, a source of human responsibility, and one with gratitude brings basic morals for humans because it reduces selfishness which is the enemy of goodness. It is the cause of prudence, caution, the realization of duties and responsibilities respectively. For gratitude of Buddhists in Thai society was found that the social and economic conditions have changed rapidly and it also changes the values of Thais from the past. Nowadays, Thai people hold that materials can supply most pleasure, so they try to struggle to make money, then they cannot spend their time with children. Even children thought that their parents or teachers have done such growing them up only as duties, such doing is not merit, so there is no need to repay obligation to them. The right obligation to parents is to perform virtues and morals with right wisdom to them as taught in Tipitaka. The promotion of gratitude in Thai society has shown that the government should encourage and grow up the gratitude conscience to the youth especially the gratitude of children in family institute.