A STUDY ON MENTAL DEVELOPMENT PROCESS APPEARING IN THE DHAMMAPATA SCRIPTURE OF THE PEOPLE IN NAMYUEN COMMUNITY, NAMYUEN DISTRICT, UBON RATCHATHANI PROVINCE

Abstract

This article included 3 objectives as the followings: 1) to study the concept on mental in Theravada Buddhism; 2) to study the mental development process appearing in the Dhammapata scripture in the section of Citta Vagga (Mental Section); 3) to study the application of mental development process appearing in the Dhammapata scripture of the people in Namyuen community, Namyuen District, Ubon Ratchathani Province. It was a qualitative research. The research findings were as the followings. 1) Mental means the state of recognizing emotions i.e. both satisfactory emotions and unsatisfactory ones. It could be recognized both in the past and at the present. The duty of mental is an abstract. Mental is shapeless without appearance. It is only a state of emotion. It is a state of thinking, memorizing and recognizing various things sensing through eyes, ears, nose, tongue, bodily touch and mind. Mental is by nature acknowledging emotions. 2) Mental development process appearing in the Dhammapata scripture in the section of Citta Vagga (Mental Section) included 9 topics as the followings: (2.1) mind dominated by 3 unwholesome thoughts (Vitakka); (2.2) Heedful living by enunciating the Akara (modes) of 32 as a method of training mentality which is hard to be contained; (2.3) Mind containment from being distracted that helps releasing from suffering; (2.4) aimless thought that is easily affected by trivial matters. (2.5) difference between thought and reality e.g. one wishes to be ordained for keeping himself away from hunger; (2.6) making use of wisdom for considering and seeing the truth as it naturally is; (2.7) concentrating one’s mind in unity with faith and confidence in the right path; (2.8) misleading one’s mind with Akusala-kammapatha 10 (unwholesome course of action); and (2.9) misleading one’s mind that is hard to control and causes delusions. 3) The applications of mental development process appearing in the Dhammapata scripture included: (3.1) managing oneself in modesty, harmlessness, self-sufficiency, tolerance, diligence, and peace; (3.2) mental development through acceptance of others’ opinion, having a good human relations and being responsible for what was done, right speech, right action, mindfulness in daily living, honest practice towards others with a truthful mind;  (3.3) being faithful in one’s own duties, loving one’s own career, being a good model, being honest, developing oneself towards one’s duties, being responsible, being diligent and patient, striving, being confident in one’s own potentials, being aware of duties and responsibilities towards society.