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FAMILY AND SOCIETY: A BUDDHIST PERSPECTIVE ADVISORY BOARD His Holiness Thich Tri Quang Deputy Sangharaja of Vietnam Most Ven. Dr. Thich Thien Nhon President of National Vietnam Buddhist Sangha Most Ven.Prof. Brahmapundit President of International Council for Day of Vesak CONFERENCE COMMITTEE Prof. Dr. Le Manh That, Vietnam Most Ven. Dr. Dharmaratana, France Most Ven. Prof. Dr. Phra Rajapariyatkavi, Thailand Bhante. Chao Chu, U.S.A. Prof. Dr. Amajiva Lochan, India Most Ven. Dr. Thich Nhat Tu (Conference Coordinator), Vietnam EDITORIAL BOARD Dr. Do Kim Them, Germany Dr. Tran Tien Khanh, U.S.A. Nguyen Manh Dat, U.S.A. Bruce Robert Newton, Australia Dr. Le Thanh Binh, Vietnam Giac Thanh Ha, Vietnam Nguyen Thi Linh Da, Vietnam Tan Bao Ngoc, Vietnam Nguyen Tuan Minh, U.S.A. VIETNAM BUDDHIST UNIVERSITY SERIES FAMILY AND SOCIETY: A BUDDHIST PERSPECTIVE Editor Most Ven. Thich Nhat Tu, D.Phil., HONG DUC PUBLISHING HOUSE Contents Foreword ................................................................................................... ix Preface ....................................................................................................... xi Editors’ Introduction ............................................................................ xv 1. Utility of Buddhist Meditation to Overcome Physical Infirmity and Mental Disorders Based on Modern Neuroscience Researches Ven. Polgolle Kusaladhamma ..........................................................................1 2. The Buddhist Approach Toward an Ethical and Harmonious Society Jenny Ko Gyi...................................................................................................... 15 3. Buddhist Approach to Harmonious Families, Healthcare, Happiness and Sustainable Development in India Bajrangi Yadav ................................................................................................. 31 4. Brahmavihāra: Buddhist Approach to Harmonious Family and Sus- tainable Society Sushma Shree .................................................................................................... 41 5. The Evaluation of Chanting Project that Creates a Healthy Intellectual and Reduces Problems Patitham Samniang ........................................................................................ 55 6. Buddhist Perspectives on Heath With Special Reference to the Sick and Elderly Care Dissanayake Mudiyanselage Inoka Udani Dissanayake ....................... 73 7. Buddhist Approach to Harmonious Family and Stronger Social Bond Niharika Labh .................................................................................................. 87 8. Buddhist Approach to Inclusiveness and Sustainable Development for Social Harmony Anita Meena ...................................................................................................... 99 vi FAMILY AND SOCIETY: A BUDDHIST PERSPECTIVE 9. The Role of Women and Buddhist Nuns to Harmonious Families Healthcare and Environmental Protection Tran Thi Dieu Huong ...................................................................................111 10. Filial Piety In Buddhism at the Time of Globalization: How Bud- dhism Can Save the Concept of Family? Ludovic Corsini .............................................................................................145 11. Buddhist Psychological Teachings for a Harmonious Family In a Sus- tainable Society. H. M. Mahinda Herath ................................................................................153 12. The Family Function in the Modern Society (According to the The- ory of Functionalism and Buddhist Teaching) Mahakachchakodiye Pangngasekara .......................................................161 13. Food Consumption Techniques Revealed in Buddhism as a Para- digm for Sustainable Healthcare Ven. Panahaduwe Yasassi Thera ................................................................189 14. Relevance of Padma and Buddha in Management of Modern Life Style Diseases Kishor Bapu Londhe & Pandurang Tukaram Gaikwad.....................203 15. Buddhist Approach to Harmonious Families, Health Care and Sus- tainable Societies Nilima Chawhan ...........................................................................................221 16. Essence of Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta: Individual and Social Benefits Pushkar Singh .................................................................................................231 17. An Analysis of the Buddhist Perspective of Family Policy Towards Sustainable Society Moggallana Sraman .....................................................................................249 18. A Study on Buddhist Social Work Intervention: Psycho-Social Chal- lenges Faced by Teenage Mothers a Case Study Based Analysis Ven. Omalpe Somananda ............................................................................261 19. Tibetan Buddhist Approach to a Happy and Harmonious Family Life in Modern Perspective CONTENTS vii Prem Shankar Shrivastava ..........................................................................279 20. Importance of Buddhistic Qualities and Ethics For a Sustainable Society Ven. I. G. Pasadike Thero .............................................................................301 Biographical Notes on Contributors ..............................................................313 viii FAMILY AND SOCIETY: A BUDDHIST PERSPECTIVE FOREWORD ix FOREWORD In 1999, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted the resolution to recognize the Vesak Day as an International Day of Recognition of Buddhists and the contribution of the Buddha to the world. Since then, the people and the Royal Government of the Kingdom of Thailand, in general, and Mahachulalongkorn- raja-vidyalaya University, in particular, were very honored to have successively and successfully held for twelve years the United Na- tions Day of Vesak Celebrations in Thailand. From 2004 to date, we have come a long way in the celebrations, and we are happy to be the host and organizer, but it is time for the celebrations to grow and evolve. The United Nations Day of Vesak celebrations is coming to maturity, with twelve celebrations under our belt, much experience gained, it is time now to share this with others. There will always be room for growth and development, and we are elated to see it grow. In 2006-2007, having joined the International Organizing Com- mittee for UN Day of Vesak as Deputy Secretary General, Ven. Dr. Thich Nhat Tu has played a crucial role in building strong relation- ship between the National Vietnam Buddhist Sangha and Interna- tional Council for Day of Vesak in particular and Global Buddhist community in general. We have supported and congratulated Vietnam for organizing successful UNDV celebrations and conference in 2008 and 2014 respectively. We have full trust in Vietnam being the host of UNDV 2019 for the third time. We like to thank all those who have contrib- ute to the success of previous celebrations and wish all the future celebrations be successful. The teachings of the Buddha see no boundaries, the minds of all are alike, the sufferings of all are similar and truly, the liberation of all is the same. We are happy to initiate the process, develop the x FAMILY AND SOCIETY: A BUDDHIST PERSPECTIVE scope and now it is time for others to follow in footsteps similar, evolve the celebrations into a truly international event that can be shared with the Buddhists and Non-Buddhists alike. Let the Dhamma of the Buddha be the beacon to the world, shredding away the ignorance within our hearts, bringing develop- ment into sustainable capacity for humanity and more importantly, peace and harmony to the world. Most Ven.Prof. Brahmapundit President, International Council for Day of Vesak (ICDV) President, International Association of Buddhist Universities (IABU) FOREWORD xi PREFACE The history of mankind records how the Buddha got enlightenment and showed a path which not only leads but also guides the world till date. That is solely to emanate wisdom and offer insights which help us overcome numerous challenges and achieve the welfare of humanity. Recognizing his pragmatic approach, values and contribution of Buddhism, the United Nations in a resolution in 1999 decided to celebrate the Triply Blessed Day of Vesak (Birth, Enlightenment and Passing Away of Gautama), falling mostly in a lunar calendar in the month of May. The first celebrations were held way back in the year 2000 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York and subsequently the day has been celebrated hugely in different countries. Today our planet is confronted with a number of crises and unprecedented natural disasters. The imminent threat of terrorism and ethnic violence, tackling poverty, providing education and sustainable development leads us to strive for social justice. There is an urgent need for concerted and constant planning and right effort at an international level to foster permanent peace in the societies and in the lives of individuals. Against the backdrop of such widespread misery and strife leading to complex issues and crises, Buddhism with its rich heritage of tolerance and non-violence can contribute immensely and inspire us with His message of loving-kindness, peace and harmony in today’s world. The United Nations Day of Vesak (UNDV) 2019 is a testimony to this fact. Vietnam got the chance and responsibility of hosting this international Buddhist event UNDV in 2008 and 2014 respectively. The event proved an amazing spectacle of religious and spiritual festivity, with