An Analytical Study of Buddhakāravata in the Mahāsakuludāyi Sutta

Abstract

The research entitled “An Analytical Study of Buddhakāravatā in the Mahāsakuludāyi Sutta” has three objectives: 1) to study the structure and main contents of the Mahāsakuludāyi Sutta, 2) to study the principle of Buddha-Gāravatā in the Mahāsakuludāyi Sutta, and 3) to analyze the principle of Buddhakāravatā in the Mahāsakuludāyi Sutta. This study is a documentary research. It was conducted by exploring the Buddhist Scriptures (Tipiṭaka), Commentaries (Atthakathā), and related academic documents. The research instruments used for data collection included data recording forms and content analysis forms. For the research methodology, data were analyzed using descriptive content analysis. The research findings revealed that the Mahāsakuludāyi Sutta in the Majjhima Nikāya possesses a content structure covering critiques of worldly talk (Tiracchānakathā), comparisons of contemporary religious teachers, and explanations of the Dhamma leading to reverence. These include the 5 Dhammas (such as contentment) and higher virtues, namely higher morality (Adhisīla), knowledge and vision (Ñāṇadassana), higher wisdom (Adhipaññā), explanations of the Four Noble Truths, and practices for liberation according to the Noble Eightfold Path. Regarding the principle of Buddhakāravatā in this Sutta, it appears as a virtue covering both external and internal dimensions. The external dimension arises from witnessing the Buddha's conduct, such as fewness of wishes, contentment, and seclusion, while the internal dimension is driven by virtues in morality, wisdom, and the Noble Truths, which generate faith based on reason. Thus, Buddhakāravatā is an integrative concept linking wisdom, faith, and practice, consisting of three aspects. The new body of knowledge obtained from this research indicates that Buddhakāravatā can be systematically synthesized into 4 levels: the foundational level, the faith-generating level, the proving level, and the confirming level. This reflects the process of mental development in a continuous cyclical manner, becoming a systematic faith that possesses reason, a proving process, and empirical results, which leads to mental development and liberation according to Buddhist principles in a concrete manner.