A Model for Promoting the Buddhist Potential’s Elderly in Non-Thong-In Subdistrict Elderly School, Ku Kaeo District, Udon Thani Province

Abstract

The objectives of this were: 1) to study the problem condition of the potential of the elderly in Buddhism; 2) to study the promotion of the Buddhist potential of the elderly in Non-Thong-In Subdistrict Elderly School, Ku Kaew District, Udon Thani Province; 3) to study the model of promoting the Buddhist potential of the elderly in Non-Thong-In Subdistrict Elderly School. The research results were as follows: The problems of the potential of the elderly in Buddhism were divided into 5 aspects: 1) Physical aspect: degeneration and physical illness; 2) Social aspect (precepts): lack of precepts among the elderly; 3) Mental aspect: participation in activities of the Elderly Club such as listening to sermons; 4) Intellectual aspect: going to the temple to bring the Dhamma principles to develop the occurred situations; 5) Economic aspect: inadequate income for expenditure and finding additional careers. The study of the promotion of the Buddhist potential of the elderly in Non-Thong-In Subdistrict Elderly School, Ku Kaew District, Udon Thani Province found that there is the use of Four Bhāvanā Principles to promote the development of Buddhist potential. In terms of Kāya-Bhāvanā, meditation, exercise and yoga practice were used. In terms of the social aspect (precepts), group therapy, generosity group and a group of friends who practice dhamma together were used. In terms of the mental aspect, different relaxation methods, breathing exercises and musical therapy were used. In terms of the intellectual aspect, chanting, spreading loving kindness and Vipassana meditation were applied.  The model of promoting the Buddhist potential of the elderly in Non-Thong-In Subdistrict Elderly School: a learning plan has been developed to practice skills for enhancing the life potential of the elderly in 4 models: the model for promoting physical potential including exercise activities; the model of promoting social potential (precepts) including an activity to improve quality of life skills, a model to promote mental potential including the practice of Vipassana meditation, a model for promoting intellectual potential including a training to improve the ability to analyze the right or wrong.