The Guidelines for Improving the Quality of Life of the Elderly according to the Principles of Meditation, 4 Case Studies of the Elderly in Phu Khiao District, Chaiyaphum Province

Abstract

             This research aims to 1) study the quality of life of the elderly in Phu Khieo District, 2) study the development of quality of life according to the four principles of meditation in Buddhism, and 3) propose guidelines for the development of quality of life of the elderly according to the four principles of meditation in Phu Khieo District. It is a qualitative research by conducting in-depth interviews with key informants, in-depth interviews with relevant persons, and mixed-method research by using survey research methods from questionnaires, analyzing data, and compiling a description in a descriptive manner.
             The research results found that:
             1. Elderly people in Phu Khiao District, Chaiyaphum Province face various health problems, including chronic diseases and limited access to medical services. At the same time, they also have to deal with stress, anxiety, and insufficient income, all of which affect the quality of life and stability of the elderly.
             2. The four principles of meditation according to Buddhism are a guideline to mold life to be complete and peaceful: physical meditation, developing the body to be strong and training the five senses to be virtuous; moral meditation, refining behavior to be within the framework of morality and compassion for all living beings; mental meditation, developing mindfulness, staying firmly in the present, nourishing the mind with virtue; and wisdom meditation, training the mind to be aware of the truth and resolving suffering with wisdom.
             3. Guidelines for improving the quality of life of the elderly in Phu Khiao District are based on the four principles of meditation in Buddhism: physical meditation, which is taking care of your health through food, exercise, and rest; moral meditation, which is keeping the five precepts for peace and order in life and society; mental meditation, which is practicing mindfulness, concentration, and spreading loving-kindness for a clear mind; and wisdom meditation, which is understanding the impermanence of life and not clinging to form and name. All of these lead to a complete, peaceful, and wisdom-filled life.