An Integration of the Self-Development Model in the Tipiṭaka through the Practice of the Doctrinal Principles Presented in Avijjā Sutta

Abstract

This research article has three objectives: 1) to study the structure and essential contents of the Avijjā Sutta in the Tipiṭaka; 2) to study the process of self-development in the Tipiṭaka; and 3) to analyze the process of self-development according to the Avijjā Sutta. This study is qualitative research, employing documentary research methodology by studying the data from the Tipiṭaka, commentaries, and related academic documents. The collected data were then analyzed, synthesized, and presented through descriptive analysis. The research findings reveal that the Avijjā Sutta contains two important structural streams: the declining stream, or the nutriment of ignorance, and the progressive stream, or the nutriment of knowledge and liberation. The declining stream begins with not associating with true persons, not listening to the true Dhamma, lack of faith, unwise attention, lack of mindfulness and clear comprehension, non-restraint of the sense faculties, the three kinds of misconduct, the five hindrances, and finally leads to ignorance. The progressive stream begins with associating with true persons, listening to the true Dhamma, faith, wise attention, mindfulness and clear comprehension, restraint of the sense faculties, the three kinds of good conduct, the four foundations of mindfulness, the seven factors of awakening, and finally leads to knowledge and liberation. This structure shows that both streams arise in dependence upon causes and conditions. The process of self-development in the Tipiṭaka covers the body, morality, mind, and wisdom, with important doctrinal principles including the threefold training, the four developments, the four foundations of mindfulness, and the seven factors of awakening. The researcher synthesized the process of self-development according to the Avijjā Sutta into the CLEAR Model, or the model of self-development from ignorance to knowledge and liberation, consisting of five components: C = Cultivate Kalyāṇamitta; L = Listen to Saddhamma; E = Establish Faith and Wise Attention; A = Apply Mindfulness, Restraint, and Good Conduct; and R = Realize through Satipaṭṭhāna, Bojjhaṅga, and Vijjā-vimutti. The new body of knowledge shows that self-development in accordance with the Avijjā Sutta refers to a process of transforming the causal conditions that sustain ignorance into those that foster knowledge and liberation by arranging both external and internal causes and conditions to support the arising of right view and the progression into the progressive stream of the Avijjā Sutta.