ABSTRACT

                   The objectives of this study were to examine direct experiences of cancer patients under the Buddhist Mind Power healing method and to enhance perception and acceptation of the truth of life while being in sickness.

                   The study was qualitative in nature. The tool of data collection was structured in-dept interview administered to thirteen key informants, who were cancer patients at Arogayasal Center of Wat Kampramong in Sakolnakorn province and Institute of Cosmic Energy for Health Association in Bangkok. The study was conducted during January and August, C.E. 2011.

Findings were as follows :

                   Before being treated by the Buddhist Mind Power healing method, cancer patients comprehended that cancer was a harmful chronic disease and cause of death. It was the disease born from bad previous will–action, Kamma. Those who had never practiced Buddhist meditation would deny the truth, would go under stress, anxiety and torturing to fight with the dreadful disease. But, for those who underwent Buddhist meditation practice, at first when knowing that one had contacted with cancer, would understand and accept the truth of life, and live the life with mindfulness. They would seek for curing methods, either by modern medical or alternative methods.

                   At curing seeking stage, most cancer patients chose modern medical method with the perception that it is modern, beneficial and result-oriented. But at the actual curing stage, doctors, healed only bodily disease and left mental condition behind. As a result, more torturing from side effects with no hope of recovering was created to patients Therefore, the cancer patients turned to alternative method, i.e., the Buddhist Mind Power healing method. For those who had experiences with the Buddhist Meditation would choose the Buddhist Mind Power healing method from the first place.

                   At curing stage, cancer patients accepted that the Buddhist healing method yielded good results in the following three ways; 1) Dhamma medicine for mental illness, inducing pure wisdom of the truth of life. 2) Easing up anxiety and creating mindful calmness. 3) Generating new immunity to fight and stop cancer cells.

Whether the Buddhist Mind Power healing method  bear full fruits , it depends on practicing Bhala 5, and Indriya 5, consisting of 1) Saddha : faith and confidence, 2) Viriya : effort  3) Sati : mindfulness  4) Samadhi : concentration and  5) Panna : Wisdom.

Some advices from the findings, the successful healing method depends on the severity of the disease and the intention of cancer patients to follow the disciplines of the healing method.