THE FOUR FOUNDATIONS OF MINDFULNESS AND RESILIENCE ENHANCEMENT AMONG OLDER ADULTS IN CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY

Abstract

This article investigates the Four Foundations of Mindfulness (Satipaṭṭhāna) and their role in enhancing psychological resilience among older adults in contemporary society. As Thailand has now fully transitioned into an aged society, older adults are increasingly confronted with multidimensional changes encompassing physical decline, psychological adjustment, and social transformation, which may give rise to stress, anxiety, social isolation, and psychological vulnerability. The article pursues three objectives: to examine the concept of the Four Foundations of Mindfulness (Satipaṭṭhāna) within the Buddhist tradition; to analyze the relationship between Satipaṭṭhāna and the enhancement of psychological resilience among older adults; and to synthesize practical guidelines for applying Satipaṭṭhāna to promote the quality of life of older adults in contemporary society.

The Four Foundations of Mindfulness comprise kāyānupassanā (contemplation of the body), vedanānupassanā (contemplation of feelings), cittānupassanā (contemplation of the mind), and dhammānupassanā (contemplation of mental objects). Together, they constitute a systematic process of cultivating mindfulness (sati) and wisdom (paññā) that enables older adults to remain fully aware of life's impermanent changes, to regulate their emotional responses, to reduce stress, and to accept age-related decline with equanimity. The findings indicate that Satipaṭṭhāna is congruent with three contemporary frameworks: the concept of psychological resilience, the concept of active ageing, and modern mindfulness-based approaches to human development, all of which promote adaptive capacity and the sustenance of a meaningful quality of life. The synthesized knowledge framework, designated Buddhist Psychological Immunity, encompasses four constitutive dimensions self-awareness, emotional stability, adaptive capacity, and meaningful living and serves as a foundational basis for the holistic development of older adults' quality of life, enabling them to live with happiness, intrinsic worth, and human dignity, while remaining resilient and responsive to the transformations of contemporary society.