The Analytical Study of the Abandonment of Personality-view in Cũḷavedallasutta

Abstract

The thesis is a documentary research with three objectives: 1) to study the structure and essential content of the Cūḷavedalla Sutta, 2) to study the Personality-view in the Cūḷavedalla Sutta, and 3) to analyze the abandonment of Personality-view in the Cūḷavedalla Sutta. The research uses a qualitative research method. The research findings are summarized as follows: 1) Structure and Essential Content of the Cūḷavedalla Sutta: The Chūḷavedalla Sutta is the 4th sutta of the CūḷaYamakavagga and is found in the Pali Canon, Volume 12, Mūla Pariyāya Vagga, Majjhima Nikāya. It is a sutta discussing Dharma dialogue that leads to wisdom. The content includes a question-and-answer interaction between Visākha Upāsaka, the questioner, and Dhammadhinnā Bhikkhunī, the responder. Important principles in this sutta include the five aggregates of attachment, three cravings, the Noble Eightfold Path, four attachments, twenty self-identity views, three aggregates, four foundations of mindfulness, four right efforts, three formations, three contacts, three feelings, and three latent tendencies.1) Personality-View in the Cūḷavedalla Sutta: The Personality-view refers to the five aggregates of attachment and can be elaborated into as many as twenty categories, categorized as defilements belonging to the ten fetters. There are also twenty specific methods for abandonment, known as Tadaṅgapahāna. 2) Analysis of the Abandonment of Personality-View: Abandoning the Personality-view is a fundamental task of a stream-enterer who has encountered an Arya or noble being, such as The Buddha, The Paccekabuddha, and an Arahant disciple. There are five methods for abandoning the Personality-view: Tadaṅgapahāna (case-by-case abandonment), Vikkhambhana Pahāna (through meditation), Samuccheda Pahāna (through the path), Patipassadhipahāna (fruition), and Nissaraṇa Pahāna (Nirvāna). The Chūḷavedalla Sutta explains the Tadaṅgapahāna method in relation to the Four Noble Truths: Personality or identity (sakkāya) as suffering that should be fully understood, the cause of suffering (sakkāya-ditṭhi) as craving that must be abandoned, the cessation of identity (sakkāya-nirodha) as the truth that must be realized, and the path leading to the cessation of Personality (sakkāya-nirodhagāminīpaṭipadā) as the Noble Eightfold Path.This thesis provides new knowledge about the practice of abandoning Sakkāyaditthi (identity view). It details the steps of practice in accordance with the principles of Pahānavinaya. Practitioners can apply this knowledge to develop the removal of defilements (kilesa).