A Study of The Enlightenment of Vakkali Bhikkhu in Vakkali Sutta

Abstract

The objectives of this article were 1) to study the enlightenment approach found in early Buddhism and 2) to study the enlightenment of Vakkali Bhikkhu that appeared in the Vakkali Sutta. Research data was taken from primary texts of Early Buddhism and other related documents, summed up, analyzed, and compiled in a descriptive style. The result revealed that Vakkali Bhikkhu attained enlightenment through the Blessed One’s visit, who was greatly enraged. Having known Vakkali’s serious sickness due to his longing to come and see him; the Buddha said that seeing his flesh body was useless; those who see Dhamma will see him, those who saw him will truly see Dhamma; and taught him to observe pains by defining the state of pains that arise as it really is without any alteration, such as the feeling of bodily suffering, called Kāyikadukkha, etc.; and the five aggregates, namely form, feeling, perception, thought, and consciousness, as impermanent, suffering, and non-self, then returning to his dwelling place. Later, Vakkali committed suicide by attaining Arahatship along with the quenching of the mind.