A Study of Mindful Ascetic Therapy (MAT) Program on Mental Health of the New Normal Society during the COVID-19

Authors

  • Pintong Chatnarat, Phramaha Duangden Thitañāṇo, Khenpo Karchung, Phra Brahmabanḍit

Abstract

The purposes of this research were 1) to study the problems and situation of current society during the pandemic of COVID-19, 2) to analyze and integrate the knowledge of mindfulness-based therapy, ascetic’s body twist postures, Thai Traditional Medicine (TTM), and 3) to develop and propose the Mindful Ascetic Therapy (MAT) Program on mental health for the new normal society during the COVID-19. This article distilled the psychological phenomenology design and documentary research from the observation, news, and texts.  Data were collected from scriptures, texts, books, news, and on-line data relating to mindfulness-based therapy, ascetic’s body twist postures, and Thai Traditional Medicine (TTM). Results indicated that 1) Mental health, as well as emotional stability, is very important for a person’s new normal life during the pandemic of COVID-19 as it creates the mental immune system to fight against the illness; 2) The integration of a mindfulness breathing (?n?p?nasati) with ascetic’s body twist postures (Reusi Dat Ton) and TTM has been designed based on four factors of physical, social, mental/emotional, intellectual/wisdom in the Buddhist concept (P?li: Bh?van?); and 3) MAT Program consists of four interventions which are (1) the practice of ascetic body’s twist postures from Thai Traditional Medicine (TTM), (2) meditation on mindfulness of breathing, (3) body scan, and (4) indigenous mindful eating for the balance of holistic health  aiming for prevention, self-healing, and attainment of mental health in the new normal society.

Published

2020-02-29

Issue

Section

Articles