The thesis  entitled “A Comparative Study of Happiness Promotion to the Elderly in Theravada Buddhism and Islam: A Case study of Bangchalong Sub-district, Bangphi District, Samutprakarn Province” has three objectives: 1) to study of  happiness promotion to the elderly of Theravada Buddhism and Islam in Bangchalong Sub-district, Bangphi District, Samutprakarn Province, 2) to study of happiness promotion to the elderly of Islam in Bangchalong Sub-district, Bangphi District, Samutprakarn Province , and 3) to comparatively study of happiness promotion to the elderly of Theravada Buddhism and Islam in Bangchalong Sub-district, Bangphi District, Samutprakarn Province. This study is of qualitative research. The sources of this study have been collected from documents and research papers related to the elderly, and also from In-depth Interview.

The results of the study were as follows:

The promotion of happiness to the elderly in Theravada Buddhism is the way of making life happy with the Dhammas of the Buddha aiming at strengthening mind and also yielding good health to the elderly. These Dhammas comprise: i) three characteristics (ti-lakhaṇa), ii) noble truths (ariya sacca) iii) merit-demerit, and kamma, iv) the sublime states of mind (brahma-vihāra), and v) five precepts (pañca-sīla) and the five accessory virtues (pañca-dhamma).

With regard to the happiness promotion to the elderly in Islam, the elderly have to make them happy by themselves by following the two ways of Islam, namely, 1) faith in religion (Iman) that the elderly in Islam have to believe that this is the real truth and they have to strictly follow it, they are: i) having faith in God, ii) having faith in Mala-i-kat, iii) having faith in the prophets (Rasuls), iv) having faith in the judgement day, v) having faith in koran, and vi) having faith in the determination of Allah;  and 2) the practice or the duties in religion (Ibadah), namely, i) swearing, ii) prayer, iii) charity (Zakat), iv) fasting, and v) Hajj.

From the comparison of happiness promotion to the elderly of Theravada Buddhism and Islam in Bangchalong Sub-district, Bangphi District, Samutprakarn Province, it was found that the Buddhists and Muslims have the similar view that happiness promotion is the instrument that make society peaceful and happy through the rule of law and social ethics as the supplement. The different view of them was that the Buddhists have the view that happiness promotion has to depends on Dhammas of the Buddha such as three training (ti sikkhā): morality (sila-sikkhā)—training in character, concentration (smādhi)—mind-training to be purify, and wisdom (paññā sikkhā)—bringing mind out of the social illusion, whereas the Muslims emphasize on Amaanah that is the principle of making themselves as per the duties as assigned such as the duties of the head of the family, and the most importantly, the duties that bestowed by Allah.

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