The study entitled “The Development of the Quality of Life According to Anupubbikathā” consisted of the following objectives: 1) to study Anupubbikathā in Theravada Buddhism; 2) to study the development of the quality of life; and 3) to propose the guidelines for developing the quality of life according to Anupubbikathā.
From the study, it is found that Anupubbikathā is the doctrine expounded by the Buddha for laypeople who had a character that can easily understand the Dhamma. The exposition of Anupubbikathā is a gradual dhamma comprising: 1) Dāna-kathā refers to the talk on giving; 2) Sīla-kathā refers to the talk on righteousness; 3) Sagga-kathā refers to the talk on heavenly pleasures; 4) Kāmādīnava-kathā refers to the talk on the disadvantages of sensual pleasures; and 5) Nekkhammānisaṃsa-kathā refers to the talk on the benefits of renouncing sensual pleasures. After one listens to the dhamma, his mind will be purified and joyful. The Buddha, therefore, expounded the higher dhamma that is deeper in detail.
The development of the quality of life is to improve the well-being of a person. Western philosophers view that the quality of life is the response to the needs of physical, mental, material, social, environmental, and related aspects to living according to the satisfaction of each individual. While Eastern philosophers view that the quality of life refers to the living condition that is happy physically and mentally which is a result from being responded physically, mentally, socially, and related aspects to living. Moreover, balanced beliefs, norms, morals, and ethics are molded with components and indicators in various aspects as a reflection of the quality of life.
The development of the quality of life has an emphasis on two aspects: 1) the development of the quality of life in worldly aspect by accomplishing the basic necessities in life; and 2) the development of life in Buddhist aspect by living life and solving problems intellectually. Anupubbikathā for developing the quality of life should be applied in all aspects by starting from easy to difficult: dāna-kathā as the first step because dāna (giving) is an easy thing to do. Those who give are ones who have sacrifice and a purified mind; the second step is the building of the body of knowledge and understanding about righteousness as a part of life which will result in a peaceful society; the third step is the concept of heavenly pleasure that can be compared to a goal or worldly success which one can attain through obeying rules and regulations in society; the fourth step is an awareness on the disadvantages of sensual pleasures, defilements, and the attachment to materials; lastly, the fifth step is an awareness on the benefits of renouncing sensual or worldly pleasures which will result in the spiritual liberation that is beyond all kinds of suffering.
