An Application Of The Four Buddhist Principles Of Development (Bhāvanā) In Balancing Life For The Elderly Persons In Modern Society

Abstract

              The purposes of the research were; (1) to study the concepts related to the elderly persons as appeared in Buddhist scripture and modern science (2) to apply the Four Principles of Development for the elderly persons in the modern society and (3) to present the activity patterns for self-development of the elderly persons in accordance with the Buddhist guideline. The research methodology is qualitative research and searching from the data sources, that is, Tipitaka, the texts, documents, academic articles, comparative analysis by use descriptive method.
         The results of the research are found that in the teachings of Buddhism, to live with the real qualitative and happy life is important. Buddhism teaches both the physical and mental practice in the same time with efficiency in compliance with the principle of Middle Way that summarized to the Four Principles of Development to develop the physical, moral and mental behavior and to develop the knowledge and understanding perfectively, that is, the elderly persons can apply for creating the balance in their lives by having the activity patterns namely happiness, funny, bright and peace.