Abstract

The objectives of this research are 1) to study the meaning and significance of gratitude in Buddhist Scriptures, 2) to study the gratitude in the way of Buddhists in present social settings and, 3) to study the method of a gratitude reinforcing for the leading of life in Thai society. This research is a qualitative research.

From the research it is found that gratitude is an important virtue for human as the basic human virtue. It creates a relationship in human society, a source of responsibility for humanity and brings basic doctrine for human as a destruction of selfishness, which is the main enemy of goodness. It is the cause of prudence, caution, realization of duty and responsibility. Gratitude in the way of Buddhists, in the present society, was founded by the social and economic conditions which were changed rapidly made the way of life of the Thai people changed from the past. Today, Thai people have the opinion that object is the ultimate pleasure, so they try to struggle different ways to make money, they do not have a time to spend with children. Some people have an understanding that what parents or teachers do for someone is because they do it as their duties. There is no merit and no need for reward. The reward for whom, that support us in the right way is comprised of virtues and morals, along with wisdom, as per the example of the Buddhist Scriptures. The promotion of gratitude in Thai society has shown that the government should raise awareness among the youth to gratitude. It is important to reinforce of gratitude for the family.

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