ABSTRACT

The purpose of this thesis is to study meanings, types, characteristics and functions of minds in Theravada Buddhist scripture concerning eight worldly conditions and its related Dharma. The study focuses on the principles and the method of development of mind in not being swayed to the worldly matters and also to bring those principles to apply in our daily living.

                This work is both document research and qualitative research.  The document is to explain the meaning of mind, the Dharma principles of the eight worldly conditions and the basis for developing our mind or mind disciplining. The researcher has studied from the contents appeared in the scripture, from the works of Buddhist scholars and from the information concerning forapplying of those principles mentioned before in daily living by observing, interviewing, and group discussions among active and retired civil servants, public officials, and general people forstudying the way of life according to the principles of eight worldly conditions and its other Dharma that will affect to the way to peaceful living.

                The result of research found that the meaning of mind according to Buddhist teaching is the human nature that acknowledge the mood, or the human nature whose functions are hearing, smelling, tasting, feeling, touching and thinking. Living things consist of bodies and minds. Body is the real matter while the soul is just the name. However, both things cannot separate. Themindscan bedivided toa types are incarnation, place, beauty, earth, cause, meditation, compassion, compilation and body. Altogether totalup 89 types, which the work of mind will be born or die successively in a trance-like state of mind, and a path of mind. Trance-like state of mind is born and stops in a dreaming state. It does not recognize the surrounding world. A path of mind is the work of mind when there is an acknowledgement of mood by way of eyes, ears, noses, tongues, bodies, and hearts. There are 14 actions when a mind starts working, and they are studying of the principle, the methodof development of mind that not being swayed to worldly conditions – that is to train our mind not to worry, not to be sad from the surroundings environments, and can befound happiness by using thefoundations of mindfulness 4and 6  mindfulness on breathing. In studying the principles and the development of minds and adapting them for the daily life, the researcher has observed and interviewed 10 of the elderly civil servants and general public by using the interview forms that consist of the knowledge of the eight worldly conditions and the daily practice of those principles. The results of the interview is found that they are applied these principles in their works, in their daily lives, and in helping the societies and community that is created the helping hands all over the place without expecting anything back. People live together happily and peacefully.

                The study about the worldly conditions is ordinary of world, or is the cycle that comes and goes to all beings of the world. There are two phases concerning this. One is the worldly desires – wealth, fame, praise, and happiness. And the opposites of those are – losing wealth, losing fame, gossips, and sufferings.

                These worldly conditions will happen to people who do not want to learn, or the differences in understandings.  People who learned will know the truth that everything is not permanent and there are always changes. Not being swayed by worldly desires and not being sorrowful with the temptations. These things will give people wisdom and peace.

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