The Meditation Practice For Self-Protection According to The Attavagga (The Self) In The Dhammapada

Abstract

          The study consisted of the following three objectives: (1) to investigate meditation practice in the Buddhist texts; (2) to explore structure and content of Attavagga in Dhammapada; and (3) to analyze meditation practice for self-protection based on Attavagga in Dhammapada. The study employed documentary research by examining the Tipitaka and commentaries.

          From the study, the findings reveal that there are 2 types of meditation practice in Buddhism: Samatha Kammaṭṭhāna (tranquility) and Vipassanā Kammaṭṭhāna (insight meditation). Samatha Kammaṭṭhāna is practiced based on 40 meditation objects while Vipassanā kammaṭṭhāna is the contemplation of mind and matter under Tilakkhaṇa (the Three Characteristics) comprising Aniccatā (impermanence), Dukkhatā (state of suffering), and Anattatā (not self).The structure and content of Attavagga (the self) are related to individuals and stanzas that the Buddha taught about self-protection, and it consists of ten stories: Bodhirājakumāra, Venerable Upananda Sākyaputta, Venerable Padhānikatissa, Mother of Kumārakassapa, Mahākāla Upāsaka, Devadatta, Schism in the Sangha, Venerable Kāla, Cūlakāla Upāsaka, and Venerable Attadattha. The main goal of self-protection is to attain Nibbāna. If one still does not attain Nibbāna, the secondary goal is to be born in human realm and heaven. There are 2 types of self-protection: 1) Self-protection for laypeople based on Dāna (giving), Sīla (precepts), and Bhāvanā (development); and 2) Self-protection for monks based on insight meditation. 7 of the 10 stories in Attavagga are about insight meditation, while the other 3 are the opposite of self-protection. There are 2 types of Dhamma exposition by the Buddha: 1) Sammati-sacca (conventional truth) and 2) Paramattha-sacca (ultimate truth). All 10 stories are conventional truth, as there is no ‘self’ in the ultimate truth but merely the Khandha (the five aggregates) and Dhātu (elements). The Buddha used conventional truth to teach individuals about Hiri (moral shame), Ottappa (moral dread), kamma, names of people who built lodging, Anantariya-kamma (immediacy-deeds), Brahmavihāra (sublime states of mind), Pubbenivāsānusati-ñāṇa (recollection of past lives), and offering dāna (giving). The Buddha used conventional truth to expound the Dhamma before using ultimate truth so that individuals to reach Vipassanā-ñāṇa (insight knowledge).