THE ELDERLY PREPARATION FOR THE END OF LIFE THROUGH THE INTEGRATED BUDDHISM IN MODERN ERA

Abstract

The objectives of this dissertation paper are as follows: 1) to study theoretical concepts of the elderly preparation in modern era. 2) to study the integrated principles of Buddhism in the elderly preparation for the end of life in modern era, and 3) to present the guidelines of the elderly preparation for the end of life through the integrated Buddhism in modern era. This is qualitative research using In-depth interview with Key informants and analyzing data by descriptive analytics.
The research found that the elderly preparation in the modern era has 3 aspects of: Physical aspects (having annual health check-up, eating beneficial food), mental aspects (being open-minded, having a purpose in life, being self-reliant), and social aspects (having true friends, being generosity to others and society). The principles of Buddhism including Mindfulness of death, The Four Development, and Contentment. The 3 aspects integrated with those principles are: physical aspects (self-care and observing the Five precepts), mental aspects (practicing meditation aims to have peaceful end of life or attain the nirvana of peaceful), and social aspects (living with contentment, having true friends and preparing for final decisions such as assets, funerals, wills in order to be worry free at the final moment).
The knowledge acquired from this research called “Living comfortably and Die peacefully Model” aiming to reach the ultimate goal of attaining nirvana, which means death without rebirth. The second goal is having a peaceful death, which Buddhism believes would transition to a good rebirth by applying integrated principles of Mindfulness of death, The Four Development, and Contentment to maintain good physical, mental and social aspects by practicing The Five Precepts, Mindfulness of Death and Contentment respectively.