ABSTACT

This thesis is the analytical study of the concept of epistemology in Dhammapadaṭṭhakathā. The objective of the study is to analize the concept of epistemology in the Theravāda Buddhist Philosophy and to propose the concept of epistemology in Dhammapadaṭṭhakathā. The researcher has studied this subject by documentary research. 

It is found that :-  The concept of epistemology in the Theravāda Buddhist Philosophy is the knowledge in conventional truth which is the knowledge through the world, and the ultimate truth which is the knowledge beyond the world according to the concept of Smaller Vehicle (Hīnayāna or the Southern Sect in Buddhism) by holding mainly the principle of cause and effect. When it was compared with the meaning of the Western epistemology which gives the meaning that it is one of the philosophies, which deal with the  origin of the characteristic, the duty, the kind, the regulation, and the reasonability of knowledge. It was sometimes called the theory of knowledge which is the heart of searching for knowledge. The importance of Western epistemology is the basis of estimation of truth and there is the origin of knowledge, the reasonability of knowledge, and the criterion to decide the knowledge. The epistemology in the Theravāda Buddhist Philosophy is the concept of the Buddha ‘s enlightenment. The Buddha brought the truth to declare to human beings which can be divided into 2 levels namely:- Worldly knowledge (Lokiyapaññā) and Supreme knowledge (Lokuttarapaññā). There are 3 origins or resources of the knowledge namely:- Sutamayapaññā (wisdom resulting from study), Cintāmayapaññā (wisdom resulting from reflection), and Bhāvanāmayapaññā (wisdom resulting from mental development). On the contrary, the nature of knowledge is the truth of 2 types namely:- conventional truth (Samatisacca) and ultimate truth (Paramatthasacca) which is the reasonability of knowledge e.g. the supreme wisdom (Lokuttarapaññā) which is the knowledge happening in the real experience which is the special perception above the common level. The criterion to decide the knowledge is an advice on how to investigate a doctrine in Kālāmasuta which is the primary criterion, and Sammā-diṭṭhi and Bhāvanāmayapaññā which are of the highest levels.

Regarding the concept of epistemology in Dhammapadaṭṭhakathā, it is found that it is the knowledge that Venerable Buddhaghosacariya had laid down to explain the Buddha’s teaching for easy understanding and remembering. There are about 305 epistemologies in Dhammapadaṭṭhakathā. They are like the epistemologies to search for the resource of knowledge, nature, scope, completeness including the factor making the truth to be the way or process to lead people to the real knowledge. However, it is different from the other concepts in that one searches for the external knowledge which is belonging to the world. On the contrary, the epistemology in Dhammapadaṭṭhakathā aims at the searching for the external and internal knowledge to see through everything up to the enlightenment of the circle of life. There are 3 benefits of the epistemology, namely:- the present benefit, the future benefit, and the highest benefit which is the attainment of Nibbāna.

Movers, the epistemology in Dhammapadaṭṭhakathā is the way of searching for knowledge. It is found that the epistemology and the learning process in Dhammapadaṭṭhakathā arise from the technique of teaching used by the Buddha who laid down the foundation correctly and appropriately to the intelligence of individual person. There are 2 kinds of knowledge, namely:- 1) the indirect knowledge e.g. Sutamayapaññā (wisdom resulting from study) and Cintāmayapaññā (wisdom resulting from reflection), This is the external and internal factors  which can be Sammādiṭṭhi and Micchādiṭṭhi.) the direct knowledge e.g. Bhāvanāmayapaññā which is the wisdom resulting from mental development which is Sammādiṭṭhi. Then, the scope of knowledge can be divided into 2 levels, (1) the knowledge creating the happiness to daily lives, (2) the knowledge casing the freedom from the defilements e.g. Nibbāna. The method of epistemology in Dhammapadaṭṭhakathā is the origin of knowledge from 26 exemplary subjects. There is a process of epistemology to  ethics, that is the practice or training. It starts from Saddhā to Sammādiṭṭhi until getting Sammāñāṇa and the attaining of the ultimate goal of liberation which is called Sammāvimutti. The application of epistemology to Dhammapadaṭṭhakathā and the life development depends on the characteristics of individual person.

One who is suitable for the level of the precept must apply the Sutamayapaññā. One who is suitable for the level of concentration must apply Cintāmayapaññā  and one who is suitable for wisdom must apply the Bhāvanāmayapaññā. Therefore, the etymology can develop the life into 3 levels  namely, firstly, the aim of life for the present benefits, secondly, the aim of life for the future benefit, and lastly, the aim of life for the ultimate goal called  “Nibbāna”.

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