This research is divided into three objectives as follow: 1) to study of the ages in Theravada Buddhism, 2) to study of the ages in Hinduism, and 3) to comparative study of the ages in Theravada Buddhism and Hinduism.
From the research, it is found that,
Theravada Buddhism thinks that the cycle of life is going normally for person in society, which begins from the childhood to teenage and to adulthood who builds oneself family and quietly decreases his works to the age of retirement. The age of 20-25 years is to learn in the primary level, the age of 23-60 years is the working age to build oneself family, and the final age is the age of 60 years in retirement which stay in his family and work less. The Dhamma that promote the age as follows, 1) the childhood is promoted by Dhamma such as Kataññūkataveditā: one who is thankful for benefits received and reciprocates them, Iddhipāda: the four paths of accomplishment, the association of friends, Pañca-sīla: the five precepts, Pañca-dhamma: the five ennobling virtues, 2) middle-age is promoted by Dhamma such as Samajīvidhamma: the qualities which make a couple well matched, Gharāvāsa-dhamma: the virtues for a good household life, the duty of spouse, Kula-ciraṭṭhiti-dhamma: the reasons for lastingness of a wealthy family, Brahmavihāra-dhamma: the four Divine States of mind, Sangahavatthu-dhamma: the objects of sympathy, Sārāṇīya-dhamma: the virtues for fraternal living, 3) the old-age should be promoted by Dhamma such as Ti-lakkhaṇa: the three characteristics, Ariyasacca: the four Noble Truths, Kamm: action, Brahmavihāra-dhamma: the four Divine States of mind, Sangahavatthu-dhamma: the objects of sympathy, Satipaṭṭhāna: the contemplation of mindfulness. The influences of faith of age in Buddhist society appear such as 1) modesty, 2) abandonment.
Hinduism views that the age is span of life which classified of age according to “Ashramas: Hermitage”, it specified the span of life and the Dhamma related namely, 1) Brahmacharya: the stage of studentship from the birth to 25 years, 2) Grihasta: the stage of householder from the age of 25-50 years, 3) Vanaprastha: the stage of forest dweller which is the third stage of life from the age of 51-75 years, 4) Sanyasa: the stage of renunciation when he got old, 75 years up. The influence of faith of age is appeared of three points, namely, 1) living together peacefully, 2) the economic integrity, and 3) progress.
From a comparative study of age in Theravada Buddhism and Hinduism, the researcher can conclude the point of similarities and difference as follows,
1) The similarities of both Theravada Buddhism and Hinduism look that the cycle of life is typical of a human being in society, beginning of the childhood which is the stage of learning in the primary level. When middle-age is the stage of life for working to build oneself a family, and the final life or old-age is the retirement in the age of 60 years up he will live in his family and work less for. In each age is dependent on the principles of Dhamma to promote themselves to be worthy of each and it is also the benefit of next ages.
2) The difference of age in Theravada Buddhism and Hinduism, it is to see that the principles of living Theravada Buddhism, although, it is the process and model of making for good or bad life but it is not the rules that forced him to do. It is as the way of suggestion what should do or what should not. In Hinduism has specified the way of practice strictly. It is especially in the childhood to be processed by the principles of Holy Life, it is called the principle of Hindu or the four Ashramas: Hermitage. If they do not practice them, they are not accepted by the Hindu society.
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