The Analysis on Buddhist Devotee (Upāsaka - Upāsikā)

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Ven. Dr. Kotiyagala Uparathana Thero

Abstract

The role of popularizing Sri Saddharma (Buddhist Doctrine) as understood by the Lord Buddha was assigned to the first sixtieth monks. It is clear from the history of Buddhist dispensation that the Dharma that was popularized by the guardianship of the monk was always done by four groups of Buddhist followers. Bhikkhus (monks), Bhikkhuṇis (Women monks-Nuns), Upāsaka (Lay Devotees) and Upāsikā (Lady Devotees). The responsibilities of monks were assigned to the two groups of Monks and Nuns. In the early period, the dhamma was properly propagated through devotees and it is clearly visible that it underwent various changes due to the fulfillment of its various ambitions. Therefore, the time has come to socialize the devotee or devoutness that is recommended and introduced in Buddhism. The purpose of this research is to introduce precision of devotee or devoutness.  

Article Details

How to Cite
Ven. Dr. Kotiyagala Uparathana Thero. (2024). The Analysis on Buddhist Devotee (Upāsaka - Upāsikā). Buddhism in Mekong Region Journal, 7(2), 1–10. retrieved from https://so06.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/bmrj/article/view/280456
Section
Research Articles

References

Carata bhikkhave cārikaṃ, bahujana hitāyabahujana sukhāya lokānukampāya. Atthāya hitāya sukhāya deva manussānaṃ, Mā ekena dve agamittha, desetha bhikkhave dhammaṃ ādi kalyāṇaṃ majjhe kalyāṇaṃ pariyosāan kalyāṇaṃ sātthaṃ sabyañjanaṃ kevala paripuṇṇaṃ parisuddhaṃ brahmacariyaṃ pakāsetha. (Mahāvaggapāḷi I, Bu.Ja.Tri. 1964-42nd page)

Dīgha Nikāya (Long Discourses) 2, Maha Parinibbāṇa sūtra, Bu.Ja,Tri. 1965, 110th page

Kittāvatānu kho bhante, upāsako hotīti, yato kho mahānāma buddhaṃ saraṇaṃ gato hoti, dhammaṃ saraṇaṃ gato hoti, saṃghaṃ saraṇa gato hoti, ettāvatā kho mahānāma upāsako hotīti. (Aṃ.Ni.5. Mahānāma Sūtra, Bu.Ja.Tri. (pu.mu) 2005, 120th page.

Kasmā upāsakoti, ratanattayaṃ upāsanato sohi buddhaṃ upāsatīti, upāsako, dhammaṃ upāsatīti upāsako, saṃghaṃ upāsatīti upāsako. (Papañcasūdanī Aṭṭhakathā, Hewavitharana Print, 113th page.)

Kiitāvatā pana bhante, upāsako sīlavā hotīti, yato kho mahānāma, upāsko pāṇātipāta paṭivirato hoti, adinnādānā paṭivirato hoti, kāmesu miccācārā paṭivirato hoti, musāvādā paṭivirato hoti, surāmeraya majjhapamādaṭṭhānā paṭivirato hot, ettāvatā kho mahānāma, upāsako sīlavā hotīti. (Aṃ.Ni.5, Gahapati Vagga, Mahānāma Sūtra, Bu.Ja.Tri. (pu.mu) 2005, 120th page.)

Mettena kaya kammena, mettena vacī kammena, mettena mano kammena, anāvaṭadvāratāya, āmisānuppādenena. (Aṃ.Ni, Singālovāda sūtra, Bu.Ja.Tri. 308th Page)

Aṃ, Ni. Catusaṃvāsa Sūtra, Bu.Ja.Tri. 464th page.)

Pañcahi bhikkhave, Dhammehi samannāgato upāsako upāska – ratanañca, upāsaka padumañca, upāsaka puṇdarīkoca, katamehi pañcahi, saddho hiti, sīlavā hoti, na kotuhala maṃgaliko hoti, kammaṃ pacceti no maṃglaṃ, na ito bahiddhā dakkhineyyaṃ gavesati, idha ca pubbakāraṃ karotīti. . (Papañcasūdanī Aṭṭhakathā, Hewavitharana Print, 114th page.)

Pañcimā bhikkhave vaṇijja, upāsakena akaraṇiyā katamā pañcasattha vaṇijjā, sattava vaṇijjā, māṃsa vaṇijjā, majjava vaṇijjā, visa vaṇijjā, imā bhikkhave pañca vaṇijjā upāsakena akaraṇīyāti. (above, 113th page)

Pañcahi bhikkhave, Dhammehi samannāgato upāsako upāska – caṇdāloca hoti, upāska malañca, upāsaka patikiṭṭho ca, katamehi pañcahi, assaddho hiti, dussīlo hoti, kotuhala maṃgaliko hoti, maṃglaṃ pacceti, no kammaṃ ito ca bahiddhā dakkhineyyaṃ pariyeseti, tattha ca pubbakāraṃ karotīti. . (Papañcasūdanī Aṭṭhakathā, Hewavitharana Print, 114th page.)

Sattime bhikkhave dhammā upāsakassa parihānāya saṃvattanti. Katme satta, bhikkhudassaṃ hāpeti, saddhamma savaṇaṃ pamajjati. Adhisīle na sikkhati, appasāda abahulā hoti, bhikkhusu theresuceva navesu ca majjhimesu ca, upāmahacitto dhammaṃ suṇāti, randhgavesī itoca bahiddhā dkkhiṇeyyaṃ gawesati, tatthaca pubbakāraṃ karoti, ime kho bhikkhave, satta dhammā upāsakassa parihānāya saṃvattanti. (Aṃ. Ni., Sattaka Nipāta, Upāsaka parihānīya sūtra, Bu.Ja.Tri (pra.Mu) 318th page)

Appasādo ca bhikkhūsu – bhīyyo pavaḍḍhati, upārambhacitto ca - saddhammaṃ sotu micchati (-above-320th page)

Appasādo ca bhikkhūsu – bhīyyo pavaḍḍhati, upārambhacitto ca - saddhammaṃ sotu micchati (-above-318th page)

Yato kho mahānāma upāsako attānā saddhāsampanno hoti, noparaṃ saddhā sampadāya samādapeti. Attanā sīla sampanno hoti. noparaṃ sīla sampadā samādapeti… ettāvatā kho mahānāma upāsako attahitāya paṭipanno hoti no parahitāyāti. (Aṃ.Ni.5, Gahapati Vagga, Mahānāma Sūtra, Bu.Ja.Tri. (pu.mu) 2005, 120th page.)

Attadīpā viharatha bhikkhave attasaraṇā anaññasaraṇā ( Dī. Ni. 2, Mahā Parinibbāṇa Sūtra, Bu.Ja.Mu, 110th page)

Yato kho mahānāma upāsako attanā ca saddhā sampanno hoti, parañca saddhāsampadāya samādapeti. Attanāca sīla sampanno hoti. Parañca sīla sampada samādapeti… ettāvatā kho mahānāma upāsako attahitāya ca paṭipanno hoti parhitāya cāti. . (aṃ.ni.5, gahapati vagga, mahānāma Sūtra, Bu.Ja.Tri. (pu.mu) 2005, 120th page.)

Saṃyutta Nikāya, Brahma saṃyutta, upāsakavagga, Bu.Ja.Mu (Pra.Mu) 2005, 330th page.

Aṃ. Ni., Sattaka Nipāta, Upāsaka vipatti sūtra, Bu.Ja.Tri (pra.Mu) 320th-321th page)

Dasahi bhikkhave dhammehi samannāgatā upāsikā yathāhataṃ nikkhitthā evaṃ niraye, katamehi dasahi, pāṇātipātinī hoti, adinnādāyinī hoti, kāmesu micchācāriṇī hoti, musāvādinī hoti, pisunāvācā hoti, pharusāvācā hoti, samphppalāpinī hoti, abhijjhālunī hoti, byāpanna cittā hoti, micchā diṭṭhikā hoti, imehi kho bhikkhave dasahi dhammehi samannāgatā upāsikā yathāhathaṃ nikkhittā evaṃ niraye. – Aṃ. Ni., Dasaka Nipāta, Upāsikā Sūtta, Bu.Ks.Mu.(pra.Mu.) 2005. 530th page

Imehi kho bhikkhave dasahi dhammehi samannāgatā upāsikā yathāhathaṃ nikkhittā evaṃ saggeti