THE DEVELOPMENT OF A WELL-BEING ENHANCEMENT MODEL BASED ON INTEGRATED BUDDHIST PRINCIPLES USING THE FOUR BHAVANA FRAMEWORK FOR THE PEOPLE OF BAN BUENG DISTRICT, CHONBURI PROVINCE

Abstract

This research aimed to 1) Study the current state, problems, and causes of public health among people in Ban Bueng District, Chonburi Province; 2) Examine the components of integrated Buddhist principle-based well-being development; and 3) Develop a holistic well-being enhancement model grounded in integrated Buddhist principles for the people of Ban Bueng District. A mixed-methods research design was employed. Quantitative data were collected from a sample of 399 participants, obtained through stratified random sampling from a total population of 144,887, yielding a reliability coefficient of 0.973; data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and stepwise regression analysis. Qualitative data were gathered through in-depth interviews with 25 key informants. The findings revealed that: 1) The overall well-being of community members was rated at a high level; however, residents continued to face structural development challenges across environmental, economic, cultural, and social dimensions, largely attributed to rapid urbanization and industrial expansion. 2) The components of well-being development encompassed the Four Bhavana (Physical, Moral, Mental, and Intellectual Development) as the primary integrative framework, Sappurisadhamma 7 to cultivate the qualities of a virtuous and mindful person, Ariyasacca 4 (the Four Noble Truths) to foster a correct understanding of the root causes and pathways to resolving well-being challenges, and Magga 8 (the Noble Eightfold Path) as a practical daily guideline toward sustainable well-being. 3) The developed model consists of four dimensions: physical well-being corresponds to Kāya-bhāvanā (physical cultivation), mental well-being is aligned with Citta-bhāvanā (mental cultivation), social well-being is linked to Sīla-bhāvanā (moral cultivation), and intellectual well-being is grounded in Paññā-bhāvanā (wisdom cultivation). The findings underscore the significance of integrating Buddhist principles with contemporary well-being promotion. The developed model offers a flexible and practically applicable framework at the individual, family, and community levels, providing a sustainable and contextually appropriate approach to well-being enhancement in local communities.