ABSTRACT

                    The thesis titled as The Perception of Nutrition Concept in Buddhism: A Case Study of Buddhists Participating Religious Activities in Phranakorn Metropolitant Bangkok armed at :     1) to study the level of perception of nutrition concept in Buddhism of Buddhists participating religious activities in Pranakorn Metropolitant, Bangkok and 2) to study the difference in the level of concept in Buddhism of Buddhists participating religious activities in Phranakorn Metropolitant, Bangkok according to the general information. The samples consisted of 275 Buddhists participating religious activities in Phranakorn Metropolitant, Bangkok. The instruments for collecting data were questionnaires. Statistics for data analysis consisted of percentage (%), means ( ), standard deviation (S.D.) and testing hypothesized using t-test and One-way ANOVA at the significance level of 0.05 and 0.01.

                    The Research results are as follows :

                    1.  Buddhist Nutrition Concept

                                In Buddhism can be summarized in two aspects such as 1) Bhojane-mattañÑutã as the moderation in eating in both quantity and kind of foods, controlling with understanding towards real quality of foods and 2) Principle of Bhojana-sabbaya is suitable food eating for physical well being, sufficient, hygiene, comfortable forever for holy life, Buddhist nutrition concept, in general, agrees with medical nutrition concept emphasizing on firmly eating to help, remotivate for growth and well being of all physical process. It also agrees with Thai-medical nutrition concept emphasizing on inserting with individual self element. And also Buddhist nutrition concept agrees with an alternative medical nutrition concept emphasizing on eating for balancing of yin-yang, the present being of person.

                    2.  General Information.

                                The samples mostly were male (65.5%), monk (50.2%), ages below 25 (44.7%), single (83.3%), bachelor degree (40.7%), non dhamma educational qualification (42.6%), non Pali educational qualification (75.6%) and religious activities as charming (57.5%).

                    3.  The level of Perception.

                                The samples perceived of nutrition concept in Buddhism in overall aspects at high level (  = 3.74, S.D. = 0.96). Data also indicated that Buddhists perceived the consideration of food for mental development at the highest level (  = 4.22, S.D. = 0.83) and following with the category and type of food, the selection suitable food for oneself and the sense of proportion of food, respectively (  = 3.64, S.D. = 1.06;  = 3.64, S.D. = 0.93;  = 3.46, S.D. = 1.06).

                    4.  The Difference in Level of Perception.

                                In overall aspects, the samples differed with sex, ages, educational qualifications, dhamma educational qualifications and Pali educational qualifications, experience of religious participation had the significant differences in the level 0.01 of perception of nutrition concept in Buddhism. Whereas the samples differed in Buddhist status, marital status had no differ in the level of perception.