THE DHATU: ITS MEANINGS IN THERAVÂDA BUDDHISM

Abstract

              The word “Dhãtu” contains many meanings. It could not be limited only in one definition.It depends upon what concepts will bebased on. Through the meaning of word in Pali, “Dhãtu” means "what that exists onitself condition", whilein the scientific concept, “Dhãtu” is translated from the word “Element” that means"the substance that cannot be divided or reduced into another smaller substance by the chemical or physical method. It is atom." Hence, in Buddhism, “Dhãtu” covers the whole concrete things (the material substance) and the abstract one (the immaterial substance or mind). Whereas the scientific concept has focused only on the concrete things (the material substances.The significance of “Dhãtu” is as the original cause of the world, the universe, the cosmos and the living things. The study of Dhãtus in Theravada Buddhism is found that Dhãtus are the core basis for living and non-living things. “Dhãtu” is real both in terms of concrete and abstract. It is also real both mental and material. “Dhãtu” is the priori relationship that links all human beings to each other. If and only if the man understood the phenomenon of “Dhãtus” both external and internal, it shall cause the rising of a view to the world and life that “all things must be inter dependent on each other”(Paticcasamuppãda).In Theravada Buddhism, “Dhãtu” has got some consistent meanings with the scientific concepts. On the Last, the Dhau’s values, could be seen in 2 levels: the intrinsic value and the extrinsic value.