A Study of Modern Buddhists Knowledge in Death: a Case Study of Mahamongkol Village 2 Salaya, Buddhamonthon District, Nakhon Pathom Province

Abstract

The objectives of this thematic paper were as follows; 1) To study the knowledge and understanding in death of Buddhists at Mahamongkol Village 2 Salaya, Buddhamonthon District, Nakhon Pathom Province, 2) To study the relation between personal factors and the knowledge in death of Buddhists at Mahamongkol Village 2 Salaya, and 3) To study the suggestions regarding the knowledge and understanding in death of Buddhists at Mahamongkol Village 2 Salaya. The random samplings used in this research were 333 Buddhists living at Mahamongkol Village 2 Salaya, Buddhamonthon District, Nakhon Pathom Province. The instrument used in this research was the questionnaire. The statistics used for data analysis were frequency, percentage, means, standard deviation and Chi Square.

The results of research were found as follows: 1. In overall, the knowledge in death of Buddhists was at a high level. In aspects, the level of knowledge in meaning of the death came first and followed by emotion of the dying persons, causes of death, benefits from mindfulness of death, types of death, phenomena occurring before death, and contemplation of death respectively. 2. The personal factors; namely, sex, age and levels of education in both worldly and secular fields were not related to knowledge and understanding in death. 3. The suggestions were that the death is a normal phenomenon. Whatever is occurred, that is destroyed. Nothing lasts forever. No one feels distressed at times of death. Everyone should do goodness according to Buddhism. One should be prepared for death and ready to confront with death mindfully and peacefully.