An Ethnography: How does Buddhist Doctrine, A Local Wisdom, Affect Older Thai Villagers’ Well-being?

Authors

  • Panicha Boonsawad RN, PhD Candidate, Faculty of Nursing, Chiang Mai University, Thailand
  • Hunsa Sethabouppha RN, PhD, Lecturer, Faculty of Nursing, Chiang Mai University, Thailand
  • Duangruedee Lasuka RN, DN, Associate Professor, Faculty of Nursing, Chiang Mai University, Thailand
  • Marjorie Muecke RN, PhD, Adjunct Professor, Family and Community Health School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA

Keywords:

Buddhism, Ethnography, Death and Dying, Central Thailand

Abstract

                In line with global trends, Thailand has an increasingly aged society. Generally, Thai elderly from rural lowlands in the central area are committed to Buddhism. Accordingly, many use the wisdom of their understanding of Buddhist teachings about facing death to maintain their well-being. Thai local wisdom involves accumulated knowledge, skills, behavior, and beliefs integrated and absorbed from generation to generation. Thus, local wisdom is part of local culture.

               This article reports on an ethnographic study that aimed to gain understanding of the local wisdom of Buddhist doctrine with reference to facing death, and the relationship of that understanding to the elders’ maintenance of health among Central Thai villagers. Twenty elderly key informants and nineteen general informants were recruited by using snowball technique. Participant-observation began while the principal investigator (first author) was establishing rapport and trust with villagers and continued for two years of fieldwork. In-depth interviews were conducted after securing informed consent. Data were analyzed by thematic analysis. In the larger project of which this was a part, facing death as guided by Buddhist doctrine emerged as the central theme. The study reported here identifies two approaches to facing death peacefully were having deep awareness about death; and preparing for a peaceful death.

               Incorporating this local wisdom will help elderly face death peacefully. Health care providers can use this information to understand how wellbeing can be experienced by patients approaching death.

References

1. Sri-Wong N. Issues of socio-cultural studies in Central Thailand. Social and cultural studies in Central Thailand: Institute of Thai Studies Chulalongkorn University and Office of the National culture commission. Bangkok: Institute of Thai Studies Chulalongkorn University and Office of the National Culture Commission; 1992. p. 7-15 [in Thai].

2. Supachunya T. Old communities in Central Thailand. In: Supachunya T, editor. Social and cultural studies in Central Thailand Bangkok: Institute of Thai Studies Chulalongkorn University and Office of the National Culture Commission; 1992. p. 7-15 [in Thai].

3. Eliopoulos C. Gerontological nursing. 7th ed. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2010.

4. United Nation Population Fund Country Office in Thailand. Impact of demographic change in Thailand. Bangkok: UNFPA; 2011.

5. Cicirelli VG. Fear of death in older adults: predictions from terror management theory. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 2002;57(4):358-66.

6. Hattori K, McCubbin MA, Ishida DN. Concept analysis of good death in the Japanese community. J Nurs Scholarsh. 2006; 38(2): 165-70.

7. Wink P, Scott J. Does religiousness buffer against the fear of death and dying in late adulthood? Findings from a longitudinal study. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 2005;60(4):207-14.

8. Triyakul PK. The study of understanding and method of practice according to the principle of contemplation on death for the practitioners in Watmuenghong Amphoe Rasisalai, Changwat Sisaket. Bangkok, Thailand: Mahachulalongkorn rajvidyalaya University; 2012 [in Thai].

9. Rangsikosai S, Piphatvanitcha N, Paokunha R. Factors related to behavior for preparing to cope with dying and death among older adults in the Elderly Club, Pattani Province. SongklaNakarin J. 2013; 33(1): 43-56 [in Thai].

10. Channgam S. The Three Universal Characteristics. 2013 [cited 2015 Jul 22]. Available from: http://www. buddhapadipa.org/dhamma-corner/the-three-universalcharacteristics/ [in Thai].

11. PraPhaisanVisalo. Tomorrow or future incarnation, no one knows what will come first. Bangkok: Amirin Publishing; 2011[in Thai].

12. Kongsuwan W, Touhy T. Promoting peaceful death for Thai Buddhists: Implications for holistic end-of-life care. Holist Nurs Pract. 2009; 23(5): 289-96.

13. Lincoln SY, Guba GE. Establishing trustworthiness. In: Lincoln SY, Guba GE, editors. Naturalistic inquiry. California: SAGE Publication; 1985. p. 289-331.

14. Hammersley M. Ethnography and realism. In: Huberman AM, Miles. MB, editors. The qualitative research’s companion. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publication; 2002.

15. Carpenter D, Streubert H, Speziale S. Qualitative research in nursing: Advancing the humanistic imperative. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins. 2007. p.88.

16. Braun V, Clarke V. Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qual Res Psychol. 2006; 3(2): 77-101.

17. Belliard JC, Ramírez-Johnson J. Medical pluralism in the life of a Mexican immigrant woman. Hisp J Behav Sci. 2005; 27(3): 267-85.

18. Rattanapun S. Becoming healthy aging among the elderly in Southern Thailand Chiang Mai: Chiang Mai University; 2008.

19. Kleinman A. Patiens and healers in the context of culture: An exploration of the borderland between anthropology, medicine, and psychiatry. USA: University of California Press; 1980.

20. Chuengsatiansup K, Tontipidok Y. Health and Thai cultur. Bangkok: Dee-One Publishing; 2007a [in Thai].

21. Danyuthasilpe C, Amnatsatsue K, Tanasugarn C, Kerdmongkol P, Steckler AB. Ways of healthy aging: A case study of elderly people in a Northern Thai village. Health Promot Int. 2009; 24(4): 394-403.

22. Pesek T, Reminick R, Nair M. Secrets of long life: cross-cultural explorations in sustainably enhancing vitality and promoting longevity via elders’ practice wisdom. Explore: The Journal of Science and Healing. 2010; 6(6): 352-8.

23. Rungvichaniwut S, Mudsuu A. Information of Thai traditional medicine wisdom: A case study in Khokphodistric, Patani province. Journal of Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences can Decentralization. 2009; Jan-May: 133-57 [in Thai].

24. Chompusri K, Paranuth S. Project: Local wisdom management for health care and health promotion in handicap: A case study in traditional healer network. Bangkok: Health Systems Research Institute and Alliances; 2007[in Thai].

25. Suton L. Application of the elderly wisdom to support the programs of Senior Citizens Club: A case study in Senior Citizens Council of Thailand (SCCT). Bangkok: Thammasat University; 2008 [in Thai].

26. National Health Act Thailand BE. Nonthaburi: National Health Commission (NHCO) Nonthaburi: National Health Commission (NHCO) 2007 [cited 2015 Jul 22]. Available from: http://en.nationalhealth.or.th/sites/default/files/ nationalhealth_act_en.pdf.

27. Niwasawat V. Analysis and synthesis knowledge and indigenous knowledge related with live long and happiness. Research Project: Khon Kaen: KhonKaen University; 2008.

28. Srijukkot J, Sritanyarat W, Nuntaboot K, Thongkrajai E. The elderly experiences of provision of care for the elderly: A case study in Isaan, Thailand. Journal of Science Technology and Humanities. 2010; 5(1): 57-64.

29. Payutto PA. Buddhism and human development. Bangkok: Shadhammik Printing; 1993 [in Thai].

Downloads

Published

2016-07-11

How to Cite

1.
Boonsawad P, Sethabouppha H, Lasuka D, Muecke M. An Ethnography: How does Buddhist Doctrine, A Local Wisdom, Affect Older Thai Villagers’ Well-being?. PRIJNR [Internet]. 2016 Jul. 11 [cited 2024 Mar. 29];20(3):252-65. Available from: https://he02.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/PRIJNR/article/view/42600

Issue

Section

Original paper