Literary Works on Meditation Practices of the Thammayut Sect in 1824-1895

Abstract

Background and objective (s): Meditation is a mission of Siamese monks that has become a tradition known as “Boran Kammathan.” However, traditional meditation was regarded as incorrect by the modern Buddhist sect called “Thammayut”, which later attempted to present new thoughts through literary works and with printing technology brought by Westerners. The works are the reflection of an ideal practice proposed by the sect and help understand the crossroad of transforming the traditional into new practices in the nineteenth century. Therefore, this article aims to analyze ideas and methods on the meditation practice developed by the Thammayut Sect and the impact on traditional meditation practice in Siam from literary works written between 1824-1895 by (1) Vajirañāṇa Bhikkhu, later, King Mongkut, (2) Prince-Patriarch Pavaresvariyalongkorn, (3) Somdet Phra Vanarat (Tap Buddhasiri) and (4) Phra Thammatrailokācarya (Dej Ṭhānacāro).

Methodology: The article is based on documentary research by analyzing the ideas and methods from written works and the relevance to Thai society from research concerning the Thammayut sect.

Main result: It is found that meditation practice was intended to reach spiritual attainment, to develop and enhance concentration and Buddhist wisdom according to the Buddha, but the ideas and the methods were interpreted based on the principles from Pali texts. At first, the authors mentioned Caturārakkha, “the Four Retaining Meditations,” i.e., Buddhānussati (contemplation on the virtues of the Buddha), Mettā (contemplation on compassion),Maraṇānussati (contemplation on death), and Asubhasañña (contemplation on corpses), as the methods to develop concentration, but later they added other methods mentioned in the Visuddhimagga. In developing wisdom, mindfulness of the Five Aggregates is recommended. Regarded as one meditating method, reading was applied to develop concentration and wisdom, as well as to grasp the necessary ideas and methods for the practice. In this way, meditation can be practiced without a teacher. The ideas and methods were more accepted after the status of the Thammayut Sect had become more secure. This also resulted to the disappearance of Boran Kammathan, especially when one of the works became a textbook for the curriculum of Dhamma study for the Siamese Sangha.

Relevance to Thai Studies: The study offers Thammayut concept and methods of meditation in the reformation of Buddhist meditation practice that later became a fundamental part of the conceptual and educational development of Buddhism under King Rama V. This study also illustrates the turning point in the history of Siamese Buddhism in modern times. Based on the canonical texts of Theravada tradition and rationality in the interpretation, the literary works affected the awareness of some elite Buddhists at that time in textual doctrine based on their own discretion. This has set up standardized meditation in Thai Buddhism until today.

 Conclusion: The meditation method proposed in Thammayut works is not complicated in comparison to the traditional practice and can be studied and followed by individuals through reading. The idea is based on the doctrine in Pali texts focusing on the development of concentration and wisdom. It has gained wider acceptance that it has become standardized meditation in Thai Buddhism until today.