Gratitude and Reciprocation: The Moral Foundation for a Sustainable Thai Society

Abstract

This academic article aims to explore the meaning, roles, and approaches to promoting the virtue of gratitude (katanyu katavedita) in contemporary Thai society, with the goal of creating sustainable moral mechanisms. In the context of contemporary Thai society, which is facing currents of economic, cultural, and value transformation, gratitude as a fundamental virtue has been alarmingly diminished. Phenomena such as family estrangement, neglect of benefactors, or the pursuit of personal interests all reflect the lack of foundational consciousness regarding the value of gratitude. Moreover, gratitude is not merely an individual ethic but rather the foundation of relationships characterized by mutual support, assistance, and responsibility at the family, community, and societal levels. This article focuses on studying the meaning and roles. It approaches to strengthening gratitude as a sustainable moral force by presenting conceptual frameworks from Buddhism, such as the 38 Blessings (Mangala 38) and the Six Directions teaching, along with the approaches to awareness-building at the individual, family, educational institution, and organizational levels, which can be applied to developing quality of life in all dimensions. Gratitude is not only connected to interpersonal relationships but also reflects public consciousness in environmental conservation and the preservation of public property. The conclusion suggests that the continuous and systematic promotion of the virtue of gratitude can help reduce morally deviant behaviors and sustainably enhance peace in Thai society, which constitutes an important goal for developing a stable and values-driven Thai society in the long term.