The Development of Music to Promote Happiness Based on Buddhist Peaceful Principles

Abstract

The research article consisted of the following objectives: 1) to investigate principles, concepts, theories, and methods for composing happiness-induced music and the Buddhist peaceful principles for promoting happiness-induced music; and 2) to develop happiness-induced music based on the Buddhist peaceful principles and test the music. A mixed-methods research design was used in the study, collecting data from books, textbooks, Tipitaka, and related research, in order to investigate the methods of developing music to promote happiness. A training program was developed to improve personnel music competency. Data obtained from documents and interviews were examined using content analysis.

From the study, it was found as follows: 1) The principles for composing happiness-induced music consist of two main components, which are (1) music content that demonstrates happiness, peace, and peacefulness, and (2) Three groups of musical personnel have knowledge and skills in music: composers, musicians, and singers. The Buddhist peaceful principles that promote happiness-inducing music consist of Buddhist teachings used as music content, with the meaning that creates happiness, eliminates worries, and strengthens the power of the mind. This also includes Buddhist teachings that promote the competence of musical personnel; and 2) The development model for happiness-inducing music, based on Buddhist peaceful principles consists of three steps, namely (1) studying the components for developing happiness-inducing music, which includes three groups of musical personnel with knowledge and skills in music i.e., composers, musicians, and singers. This includes happiness-inducing music to reduce anxiety, (2) the development of a program to improve the competence of employees in music, with the aim of providing knowledge of peaceful means, observance of the five precepts, satipaṭṭhāna (four foundations of mindfulness) and bhāvanā (four types of development). This contributes to the creation of happiness-induced music by using content from bojjhaṅga paritta (sutta of the seven aspects of enlightenment), and (3) testing happiness-induced music.