Changing Behavior and Eight Aw Principle of Holistic Health
Unuea Singkam

Abstract
This research aims at finding a significant change in behavior as a result of practicing a life style according to the Eight Aw Principle of Holistic Health (Food, Air, Exercise, Resting, Emotion, Excretion, Vocation and Iddhipada 4). Twenty-one men and women participated in a workshop applying the Eight Aw Principle of Holistic Health in daily living at Srisa Asoke, Srisaket, Thailand, during March 15-19, 2009. The subjects listened to the presentation of the Eight Aw Principle of Holistic Health, took Buddhist Five Precepts, ate vegetarian food, performed detoxification and practiced Samatha and Vipassana Meditation. The subjects then vowed to carry on what they learned. After a period of 6 months the subjects were questionnaire, observed in a personal interview and in a group discussion. The result indicates that balancing of life styles, according to the Eight Aw Principle of Holistic Health, promotes all aspects of personal wholesomeness. Iddhipada 4, especially, enhances the growth of other facilities. A difference was found between the subjects whose behavior changed and those who did not change. The changed had prioritized their health first while others had not.

Full Text: PDF