Integrating Buddhist Ethics and Thai Wisdom to Promote Health and Quality of life for the Elderly in Chiang Mal Province

Abstract

This research aims to 1) study Buddhist ethics and Thai wisdom, 2) analyze the context of promoting health and quality of life for the elderly at the Mae Sa Subdistrict Elderly School, and 3) present an integrated approach to integrating Buddhist ethics and Thai wisdom to promote the health and quality of life of the elderly in Chiang Mai Province. This is a participatory action research study. The research instrument is a semi-structured interview questionnaire. The key informants are 60 students from the Mae Sa Subdistrict Elderly School.

The research findings revealed that:

1. The Buddhist ethics integrated to promote the health and quality of life of the elderly include the Four Noble Truths (Ariyasaccā), The Four Divine Abidings (Brahmavihāras), the Three Signs of Being (Tilakkhana), and the Four Bases of Social Solidarity (Sangahavatthu). In terms of Thai wisdom, it includes maintaining physical health through food consumption, physical exercise using a loincloth, Lanna fingernail dance, and natural therapies.
2. The context of promoting the health and quality of life of the elderly... The Mae Sa Subdistrict Senior Citizen School comprises six areas: 1) Promoting physical health, 2) Promoting mental strength, 3) Promoting social activities, 4) Managing a suitable environment, 5) Developing quality of life according to Buddhist ethics for the elderly, and 6) Promoting health and quality of life by incorporating Thai wisdom.

3. Guidelines for integrating Buddhist ethics and Thai wisdom revealed two approaches: 1) Integrating Buddhist ethics, and 2) Integrating Thai wisdom. This was achieved using a manual for transferring knowledge and practical methods for promoting senior citizen health through nutritional activities, physical exercise, and natural therapies to promote the six areas of health and quality of life mentioned above. Participants at all levels evaluated the activities as satisfactory and practically implementable.