宗教老病照護=Religious Caring of the Sick and Eldersand Elders; 老病照護戒律=Taixu Caring Home of the Sick and Elders; 太虛老病院=Senior Caring of Buddhism; 佛教老化照護=Caring Disciplines of the Sick and Elders
This study aims to explore the current situation of sick and elderly monastic members in Buddhism temples in modern Taiwan. Firstly, the researcher tried to understand of the current caring condition of sick and elderly monastic members through the interview with the master, the care personnel, and the cared members as well as visit observation in three Buddhism temples. The four disciplinary scriptures of Daśa-bhāṇavāra-vinaya, Dharmagupta-vinaya, Mahasangha-vinaya, and Mahīsasakavinaya were also analyzed for the regulations on caring of the sick and the elders as well as Master Taixu’s plans and ideas for caring homes of the sick and elders, through which the researcher shall present the establishment elements of caring systems in modern Buddhism temples. Regarding the initial findings, regulations in the four scriptures cover three layers: the first is to provide medicine and food supplies to the sick monks, which is to regulate all monks; the second is the sick monks’ cooperation, which is to regulate them; the last is to allow sick monks make practice and observe five aggregates of clinging as well as impermanence. For establishment of caring system in modern Buddhism temples, two requirements must be satisfied. One is the external part, which includes interaction of the monks, personal medical insurance, national health insurance, and other resources, and the other is the internal part, covering ideas and plans of the master plus the convention of the sangha. Based on the said findings, the following suggestions are proposed: caring system of the sick and elders in temples primarily contains providing medical resources, health insurance, and the master’s support to the system itself. Ideas of the master are especially essential, as such ideas allow secured place of living of sick or elderly monks, in turn increasing other monks’ willingness in living in the temples. When they encounter issues of aging and diseases, they can also maintain physical and mental balance through practicing, thereby enhancing their sense of reassurance.
