Abstract:
The objectives of this research were: 1) to study the management policy of the elderly in the upper northeastern region; 2) to study the management principles for the elderly and the principles of Buddhism for the elderly; 3) to study the management process of Buddhism learning for the elderly in the upper northeast. The population used in the research included 34 of monks, elderly, government officials, community leaders, local philosophers and villagers in KhonKaen. The tools of this research were: an interview form, specific group discussions and an observatory form. The gathered data were analyzed by using the content analysis together with
the studied context consideration.
The research results were as follows:
1) The government policy primarily emphasizes on the quality of life, welfare and health of the elderly and preparing people to enter the elderly age. For the National Elderly Plan, there have been more than 15 years of operation and currently is in the period of the National Elderly Plan No. 2 (2002-2021). The National Economic and Social Development Plan and National Strategy 20 years (2017-2036) is a plan to determine the direction of the important operations of the country, the government policy on the elderly and budget allocation in operation.
2) In relations to the management principles for the elderly, it was found that 2.1) planning, there is an operational plan on the elderly with monthly meetings. There is a work plan on facilities, food, transportation, organizing activities and co-work of different units. 2.2) Organization, there are designated organizations, segmentation and clearly defined duties. 2.3) Staffing, there are personnel from each
of seven organizations that have conducted activities as planned. 2.4) Direction, all organizations have the supervisors to control the operations, and give the orders; and
also there are leaders to command operations in coordination with other agencies to achieve results. 2.5) Coordination, there is the ongoing collaboration between government agencies and communities. 2.6) Reporting, the operational results are reported to the administrators and members of the organizations to know the movement and progress of the mission regularly; there are both verbal and written reports. 2.7) Budget, for the main budget for the operation related to the elderly, if it is a government agency, the budget is allocated from the government; if it is another agency, the budget comes from donation. In regards to the principles of Buddhism for the elderly, it was found that: 1) physical development (kayabhavana) is the development of the body to be healthy, without diseases, having good health, and most importantly, the development of a relationship with the physical environment.
2) Moral development (silabhavana) is the development of morality with better behaviors, disciplines and inexploitation of the others. 3) Mental development (cittabhavana) is to develop the mind to have good qualities. 3.4) Intellectual development (pannabhavana) is the development of intellectual training to have knowledge and understanding of all things according to reality and to perceive the natural laws of all arisen things.
3) The study of the process of learning Buddhism for the elderly suggested that the process of recognition and learning is caused by the Threefold Training (tisikkha): the precepts (sila) are the learning processes that train the elderly in social behaviors, relationship between the elderly and others; this is a behavior that creates the normality of the body into a society. Meditation (samadhi) is a training process to
clarify the mind with a practice of good consciousness, suitable for work with perseverance, right endeavor and well work with other people in society. Wisdom (panna) is a learning process that has been intellectually trained to make the right knowledge which will result in a right views, beliefs and values.
Keywords: management principles,learningmanagement,the Threefold Training, elderly