Abstract
This is a qualitative research using quantitative data collected by a survey research and having the objective to study the meaning and value of life of People with Disabilities in Buddhism so as to comprehend Buddhist monks’ understanding about the meaning and value of life of People with Disabilities in Khonkaen province and to know about the problems, obstacles and suggestions of practice following the teachings of Buddhism regarding meaning and value of life of People with Disabilities.
The results of the study indicate that according to Buddhist principles of People with Disabilities are able to train themselves by special method from other normal people depending on the level of their physical disability. Self-training not only means to train in right livelihood which is value of life at the mundane level but also means dhamma practice in order to develop the mind that leads to value in super mundane level.
Life of People with Disabilities has the following values-(1) They are born with moral rights that have intrinsic values, (2) Their life is the moral matrix or they are creator of virtues that appear clearly in this world same as normal people, (3) They have the potentiality of self-training following the Buddhist teaching.
Whether it’s congenital disability or disability that arises later on , Buddhist perspective holds that-(1) disability can tell us about the past so as to understand the reality of life and action and its effect, thereby making one acknowledge the value of life that is lived in a heedless way- (2) Physical disability can also indicate the future that is based on physical difference from normal people. (3) Physical disability is also social narrative tool indicating that society should learn from the life of People with Disabilities in the same way as one’s own life so that the “otherness” of People with Disabilities will disappear from society. When society understands People with Disabilities in a real sense it would be possible to create the necessary and appropriate things for them which lay the foundation of a friendly society. There are Buddhist teachings that are supportive of a society that is kind to People with Disabilities and there are Buddhist principles that can be used in practice to support and assert value of life for them. These principles are-frendliness (Kalyanamitta), Divine Abidign (Brahma Vihara), Principles of service (Sangahavatthu), states of conciliation or virtues for fraternal living (Saraniyadhamma), and enlightenment factors (Bojjhanga).
Regarding the Buddhist monks’ understanding of the meaning and value of life of People with Disabilities in Khonkaen, the study found that they have good understanding of intrinsic value at a moderately level. Regarding the problem of meeting the religious needs of People with Disabilities it has been found that at times Buddhist monks lack the religious information about them and most temples/monasteries do not have the aids and place that can be used for the practice of religious activities of People with Disabilities
The present research has the following policy-related suggestions- (1) increase the imparting of knowledge about the meaning and value of life of People with Disabilities in Buddhism to both monks and laypeople; (2) give opportunity and support to People with Disabilities to receive education, knowledge, participation in religious activities that are appropriate to them at the individual level.
For future research it can be suggested that more research is needed to be undertaken regarding the religious practice of People with Disabilities of different types including both ordained and laypeople and also about the bioethics of these people.
