THE SELF-DEPENDENT OF ELDERLY ACCORDING TO THERAVADA BUDDHIST PHILOSOPHY IN COMMUNITY OF PHUTTHAMONTHON DISTRICT, NAKHONPATHOM PROVINCE

Abstract

                The objectives of this research were: to study of the elderly’s self-reliance  based on the Theravada Buddhist philosophy and propose guidelines of using Buddhist philosophy for the elderly to follow in community Phutthamonthon district, Nakhon Pathom province. This research was the quality research. A researcher studied and analyzed of data from related document which were the National elderly plan policy edition 2 (2545-2564 BE.), A researcher used an in-depth interview key informants of the elderly in three communities at Salaya subdistrict Phutthamonthon district Nakhon Pathom province, , totally were 15 people, used the descriptive analysis to analyze data.

                Research results found, the elderly in Phutthamonthon district adapted the Buddhist philosophy for self-reliance in three different areas, including with: 1. Physically Self-reliance of the elderly, used the Ayussa-Dhamma Doctrine, or cultural age; 2. Psychological Self-reliance of the elderly, followed trinity and; 3. Social Self-reliance of the elderly, followed Sangahavatthu.  Buddhist philosophy enhanced the elderly to live with happy life and have a good quality of life from adapting the Theravada Buddhist philosophy as a self-reliance guideline and encourage the elderly to appreciate on themselves, not careless in their lives, prepare their spirits for acceptance of changes followed the middle path ways which can be found for the real happiness for living by following the Buddhist philosophy.