Thailand is fast becoming an aging society. Steeped in the Buddhist belief in the transiency of life and kamma (law of cause and effect), for many Thai elders the experience of aging is an opportunity to reflect on their lives and to deepen their understanding of Lord Buddha's Dhamma (Teachings) through the practice of meditation and by the cultivation of good kamma (deeds) that will result in a more favorable life and future rebirth. The virtue of gratitude that is nurtured in traditional extended families and reinforced by Buddhist teachings persists in the modern Thai family; this virtue also undergirds government programs that serve the elderly.
