This thesis entitled “An Analytical Study of Dhamma-osatha of the Buddha” has 3 objectives: 1) to study two modes of the Buddha’s expounding the dhamma; puggalādhiṭṭhāna-desanā and dhammādhiṭṭhāna-desanā 2) to study the modes of the Buddha’s expounding the dhamma-osatha or dhamma medicine, and 3) to analyze the modes of the Buddha’s expounding the dhamma-osatha. This is a documentary research.
In this research, it was found that the puggalādhiṭṭhāna is the exposition of the teaching in terms of person or personification. In explaining his discourse to suit diverse listeners, the Buddha used figurative language by referring not only to people and individuals but also to imagery, stories, narrative figuration, metaphorical tales and similes to communicate and to connect to the listeners. It was the method the Buddha had used the most to propagate his teachings to all people.
Dhammādhiṭṭhāna, on the other hand, is the Buddha’s discourse on concepts of the Buddhist doctrine which denotes the absolute truth. This mode of expounding refers to high principles of the Buddha’s teaching for example, The Four Noble Truths, 7 Enlightenment Factors, 10 perceptions and Three Characteristics. As a result, it’s suitable for listeners who have deep spiritual insight into the Buddha’s teachings without the need of medium of narrative figuration, metaphorical tales and similes. This method of expounding was mainly applied to monks and noble monks who attained the fruit of sotāpanna, as a result, were absent from mental intoxication and had spiritual insight, e.g., Moggalana Bhikkhu and Kirimanon Bhikkhu.
Dhamma-osatha or dhamma medicine in this study basically means the Buddha’s teachings on human being’s sufferings, both physically and psychologically, and the path of cessation of sufferings. As a result, the Buddha is often compared to a doctor and his teaching is like a medicine. The Buddha used these two modes of expounding, puggalādhiṭṭhāna and dhammādhiṭṭhāna, as the tools of dhamma communication to suit the level of spiritual abilities of the listeners.
Both of the Buddha’s puggalādhiṭṭhāna and dhammādhiṭṭhāna have the same goal in presenting the principles of impermanence, short-lived and constantly changing of all things conditioned leads directly to sufferings. As a result, there is no true self and non-attachment is an important state of mind that will lead to cessation of sufferings. The focal Buddhist doctrines in this research are Three Characteristics, Co-Dependent and The Four Noble Truths which structures all of the Buddha’s teachings.
Download
|