A STUDY OF FEELING AGGREGATE (VEDANĀ-KHANDA) ACCORDING TO MAHĀSATIPAṬṬHĀNA SUTTA

Abstract

In this research, three objectives were purposely made: 1) to study feeling (Vedanā) in Buddhist scriptures and the Mahāsatipaṭṭhāna Sutta, 2) to study the important principles Dhamma with feeling in Buddhist scriptures, and 3) to analyze aggregate of feeling in the Mahāsatipaṭṭhāna Sutta. This is documentary research methodology done by analyzing the contents and then the description of its contents is made accordingly.

The research findings showed that 1) feeling, when combined with one group, is called feeling aggregate, meaning considering the emotion according to the condition of happiness, called pleasant feeling, which is a physical or mental happiness action; the condition of suffering, called painful feeling, which is a physical or mental suffering action; and the condition of equanimity, called equanimity feeling, which is a condition that is neither happy nor suffering. Feeling is a natural state that arises from contact with the eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, and mind, 2) the important principles of Dhamma supporting  feeling include principles that help in practicing the development of feeling contemplation, namely, Kāyānupassanā, Cittānupaasanā, Dhammānupassanā, Ātāpā, Sampajāno and Satimā, and the principles that support the development of feeling, namely, mindfulness and awareness, effort, patience, concentration, Yonisomanasikāra, the three characteristics, the great foundations of mindfulness, the seven factors of enlightenment, the ten perceptions, the ten recollections, the four right efforts, the four bases of power, the five faculties, and 3) the feeling aggregate in the great foundations of mindfulness called Vedanānupassanā Satipaṭṭhāna, which is the determination of knowing the feelings that arise, namely, pleasant feeling, unpleasant feelings, equanimity feeling, pleasant feeling with and without belongings, unpleasant feeling with and without belongings, and equanimity feeling with and without belongings, by establishing mindfulness to observe and know the feelings in feelings correctly. It is the consideration of the contacts which are the factors of arising and ceasing of the feeling aggregates, combined with effort, mindfulness and clear comprehension, eliminating lust and sorrow where the practice leads to the cessation of suffering through the Noble Eightfold Path brings about spiritual value, awareness of suffering, and clear knowledge of the Noble Truth, leading to the path and fruition of Nibbāna.