Abstract

This research on “Treatment to the Dying’s Mind in Tharavãda Buddhism” had 3 objectives: 1) to study the mind and the death in Tharavãda Buddhism, 2) to study the approaches of treatment to the dying persons in Tharavãda Buddhism, and 3) to submit any guidances of treatment to the dying persons in Tharavãda Buddhism. The results of this study revealed as the following:

1. The mind and the death in tharavãda Buddhism showed the definition and general status of the word “mind” meant to realize about sense-objects by mature, the condition of thinking, thinking and mind were different in their own duties, but related to the body and could not be separated. The mind could be classified into many types, 89 or 121 minds altogether. There was only one character of the mind which appeared as abstractness by nature in 3 phenomena: happening, existing and ending divided into 4 states of existence. The dying’s mind of a dying person dealt with 4 causes of death appearance. The last mind called Cuticitta: dying or death-consciousness which was the last mind appeared in the present state of existence consisting of Karma Ãrammana : sense-object actions, Karam Nimitta Ãrammana : sense-object signs and Gati Nimitta Ãrammana :  sense-object signes and Gati Nimitta Ãrammana : sense-object destination. Patisandhi citta: mind relinking was the duty of mind which would happen in the new state of existence. Patisandhi Citta could rebirth from one to another and circulating to settle down the states of existence according to the duties of normal persons and Sekha : the learner who was in the course of perfection and has yet to undergo a higher training. All these persons had to rebirth and redeath within 31 states of existence.

2. The approaches of treatment to the dying persons in Tharavãda Buddhism, it was found that the word the dying persons” meant to any dying patients or any dying elders who could not help themselves. While the last minds would move out from the state of existence, one of the 3 Nimitta Ãrammana was appearing within 1-2 minutes or 1-2 hours called dying persons and if less than 10 seconds or 20 seconds called almost dying persons. The approaches of treatment to the dying person were physical and mental treatments.

3. The guidances of treatment to the dying persons in Tharavãda Buddhism Found in various ways and each one aimed to build the mind to do the merit or wholesome actions which could submit into 6 approaches : 1) giving love and sympathy to the patients or dying persons, 2) help making their minds to pay attention to good things or virtue, 3) making them to accept the coming death, 4) help them to release whatever sticking in minds, 5) help them to relieve things by not holding or sticking to anything and  6) building peaceful atmosphere.

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