Finding Peace (Kwam Sa-ngob Jai)

Abstract

Understanding patients' spiritual beliefs and practices can help nurses to positively promote better nurse-patient relationships. Nurses should encourage patients' spiritual practices as being grounded in their belief system.

Lived Experience of Thai Women with Alcohol Addiction

“…In Thai culture, suffering women believe in karma and accept their reality and the negative consequences they experience. Consistence with the previous study that women suffering from HIV try to take spiritual care of themselves to achieve peace (Kwam Sa-ngob Jai) and to move on with life [27]. The interviewed women believed that alcohol addiction was the outcome of bad karma rather than an addiction or illness.…”

Buddhism and Coping With HIV in China

“…Yet, Buddhist principles such as reincarnation, karma, and meditation may still have profound implications for individual ART uptake and adherence. Belief in reincarnation and karma have enabled Buddhists living with HIV to accept the illness and live more positively in hopes of improving the circumstances of their next lives (Ross, Sawatphanit, & Suwansujarid, 2007). Evidence also suggests that meditative practices can reduce HIV-related stress and improve immune status (Koenig et al, 2012).…”

Living Positively

“…Thai Buddhists see HIV/AIDS as “a disease of Karma ( rok khong khon mee kam )” (Jirapaet, 2001, p. 26). Research in Thailand revealed that people living with HIV/AIDS believed that their suffering from AIDS was a consequence of their own karma (Kobotani & Engstrom, 2005; Ross, Sawatphanit, Draucker, et al, 2007; Ross, Sawatphanit & Suwansujarid, 2007). Most women in our study perceived that their HIV status was brought on by their own wen kam (karma).…”

“…Buddhist teachings are employed as a means to help individuals living with HIV/AIDS to “understand and make sense of what AIDS is and how to cope” (Kobotani & Engstrom, p. 18). In their article, Ross, Sawatphanit, and Suwansujarid (2007) also suggested that all Thai women believed that their belief in karma permitted them to embrace the reality of their health status, feel more at peace with their condition, take care of themselves, and continue their lives.…”