An Analysis of Dharma Practice based on Kāyagatāsati in the Kāyagatāsati Sutta

Abstract

This research article aims at three objectives: 1) to study the structure and content of the Kāyagatāsati Sutta, 2) to examine the practice of Dharma according to the principle of Kāyagatāsati as presented in the Sutta, and 3) to analytically investigate the process of Dharma practice based on Kāyagatāsati. This study employs a qualitative documentary research methodology, drawing upon the Thai Tipiṭaka (Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya Edition), its commentaries, as well as related academic works and research studies. Data were analyzed through content analysis and synthesis, and the findings are presented descriptively. The results reveal that: 1) the Kāyagatāsati Sutta presents a systematic framework of mindfulness of the body, structured progressively from basic awareness of the body to deeper contemplative practices, leading to the development of concentration and wisdom; 2) the practice of Kāyagatāsati is grounded in using the body as the basis of mindfulness, encompassing key methods such as mindfulness of breathing, awareness of bodily postures, contemplation of bodily impurity, and analysis of the body in terms of elements, thereby integrating both tranquillity (samatha) and insight (vipassanā); 3) the analytical findings indicate that the process of practice develops sequentially from mindfulness to concentration and ultimately to wisdom, with the primary aim of realizing the true nature of the body in terms of impermanence, suffering, and non-self, leading to the relinquishment of attachment. The new body of knowledge derived from this study highlights that Kāyagatāsati functions as a crucial mechanism for mental development, employing the body as a foundational basis that integrates concentration and wisdom in a systematic process. This framework can be applied as a practical approach to cultivating mindfulness and mental development in daily life, serving as a foundation for the cultivation of morality, concentration, and wisdom in Theravāda Buddhism.