Abstract:
The objectives of this research were: 1) to study the problematic condition of mentally ill patients at Wat Pa Don Plueay, Kham Thao Subdistrict, Kantharawichai District, Maha Sarakham Province; 2) to study the methods to treat mentally ill patients with folk wisdom of Wat Pa Don Plueay; 3) to analyze the treatment methods of mentally ill patients with folk wisdom of Wat Pa Don Plueay with Buddhist Philosophy. This study was carried out by means of qualitative research by studying the information from the Tipitaka, documents, related research, and 30 key informants. The data were analyzed using the descriptive method according to the inductive method.
The research results were as follows:
1) The problem of mentally ill patients is majorly caused by family, economic, social, and environmental problems.
2) Methods for treating mentally ill patients with folk wisdom of Wat Pa Don Plueay can be divided into (1) there are three methods of physical healing, which are oil therapy, herbs, and blowing; (2) there are three methods of mental healing, namely Mo Lam Song, Mo Tham, and Mo Brahma.
3) There are two methods of analyzing the treatment of mentally ill patients with folk wisdom of Wat Pa Don Plueay: physical therapy by drinking holy water and holy bath; mental healing by chanting and wish-making meditation. According to the Five Niyāma (Orderliness of nature), diseases caused by Bīja-Niyāma and Utu-Niyāma can be treated with medicinal methods and herbs, while diseases caused by Citta-Niyāma, Kamma-Niyāma, and Dhamma-Niyāma can be treated with Dhamma medicine by performing chanting and meditation.