The Development Process of the Practice of Gratitude to the Buddha to Enhance Emotional Well-Being for Working Professionals
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Abstract
This study developed and evaluated a 14-day Buddhānussati-based gratitude practice program designed to support emotional well-being among working professionals. The objectives were to examine participants’ emotional and spiritual needs, construct a structured practice protocol, and explore preliminary changes following implementation. A mixed-methods research-and-development design was conducted in three phases: a qualitative needs assessment; program development and validation by 9 experts; and a one-group pretest–posttest implementation with 17 working professionals. Quantitative data were collected using the PERMA-Profiler, while qualitative data were obtained through semistructured interviews and participant reflections. The needs assessment identified emotional fatigue, cognitive overload, social isolation, performance anxiety, and a diminished sense of meaning. In response, the program adopted a sequential structure: forgiveness and khama-kamma reflection, recollection of the Buddha’s qualities through Buddhānussati and Dhamma Kita (melodic Dhamma chanting), and integration into daily routines. Descriptive results showed that the overall well-being mean increased from 4.21 before the program to 4.43 after the program. The largest mean changes occurred in Positive Emotion (+0.35) and Meaning (+0.25), followed by Emotional Regulation (+0.23) and Relationships (+0.18). Participants also reported greater calm, attentional stability, relational awareness, and purpose. Because the study used a small purposive sample, self-reported outcomes, a short intervention period, and no control group or inferential analysis, the findings indicate feasibility and potential benefit rather than established effectiveness. The study contributes a preliminary applied model linking forgiveness, Buddhist recollection, gratitude, and brief workplace-compatible contemplative practice.
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