Abstract

             This thematic paper was conducted based on Documentary Research Methodology, field study approaches, and interviews. The objectives were to study the principles of meditation in Buddhism and to do analysis study of the practices of meditation in solving the problem of stress in Thai society.

             The result of the study found that:

             Mainly there were two types of meditation in Buddhism: Samattha Kammatthana (tranquility meditation) and Vipassana Kammatthana (insight meditation). It was the cornerstone of the Buddhist practical path that leading a man to be the noble human being (Ariya Puggala). Especially, Vipassana Kammatthana was the practice that aimed the practitioner in realizing the real characteristic of phenomena, that of, Pabca-khandha or mental and physical units of a person, to realize that there was no permanence which could be clung as mine or me, to realize that no one could control the natural raw of universe. This stage of Vipassana was called Pabbacetasikka (the base of wisdoms) as reported in Mahakusalañanasampayutta

             The advantages of practicing meditation were: be free from stress, lived in peaceful, and be mindful. The meditation practice also enhanced the abilities in doing works, less forgetfulness, be kind and considerate to the others. On this account, meditation practitioner would observe morality and settled in wholesome state, he or she would be able to classify what were good and what were not; then, he or she would live with proper conduct. However, this Buddhist alternative method of healing the stress would be effective much or less depending on the effort of the individual. Moreover, the modern medical profession had been already proved that meditation cure the stress. There was some limitation of this Buddhist alternative way of curing the stress. The patient who had migraine, serious high blood presser, and failed in hopeless. Nevertheless, the Buddhist meditation practice was the highly recommended alternative method in curing the stress in such the current Thai society.  

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