This thesis has three objectives: to study Dhātu (meditation subject consisting of elements) in the Theravādā Buddhist Scriptures, to study Vipassanā-bhāvanā practice taught in the Theravādā Buddhist Scriptures and to study the elements  used in Vipassanā meditation practice. Clarified and analyzed data are taken from the Theravāda Buddhist scriptures namely, the Tipitaka, Buddhist commentaries, Tīga, and other related scriptures then composed, explained in details, corrected and verified by Buddhist scholars.

The research found that,

            Dhātu is a Pali term, which contains the meanings of ‘sustain’, ‘not dissolve’ and ‘can be specified’. The three meanings are related. That is, because it is sustainable it is not dissolved and because it is not dissolved it can be specified.  When conclude the three meanings together Dhātu means things which are sustained, not dissolve and can be specified as this or that. A very short definition can be given to Dhātu as ‘maintaining’. That it can bear itself and others and vice versa. All things are considered Dhātu, thus, there are a lot of Dhātu and Dhātu is in everything.

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            The research found that, in aiming for Nibbāna, Vipassanā-bhāvanā practice can be done in two ways: (1) Samathabhāvanā or concentration development as practitioner’s base. This is called the Samathayānika and the method uses one of the elements as practitioner’s tools. (2) Vipassanāyānika or Suddhavipassanāyānika. With the latter method, practitioners have not gained any prior absorption attainment. However, both practices aim for the same goal, the Path, Fruition and total extinction.

            From the study it is found that Buddhism has used Dhātu as tools in teaching meditation so that practitioners can develop themselves while also training their mind to be concentrated. Hence, Dhātu is considered tools in Buddhism. The value of Dhātu is for one’s mind to work with it so that the mind is unraveled from his or her self.  Experiment on practices using Dhātu show that one’s mind can reach the levels of the Threefold Training, which leads to Magga (Path), Phala (Fruition) and Nibbāna (total extinction).