Abstract

This Research paper has 2 objectives; to study the Doctrinal essence in Dhātuvibhaṅga Sutta and to study the principles of practicing Vipassanā in Dhātuvibhaṅga Sutta by studying the information from the Theravada Buddhist scriptures and other related documents, then, composed, summarized, analyzed, explained in details, corrected and verified by Buddhist scholars.

From the study, it is found that Dhātuvibhaṅga Sutta is the discourse that the Buddha has taught Pukkusāti, during staying at the potter Bhaggava’s premises in Rājagaha, who went forth from the household into homelessness out of faith on the Buddha’s account but never met him before. It  results in the cause of this sutta. The Buddha taught for the sake of Pukkusāti that the person is made up of 4 factors: (1) the 6 elements (dhātu), (2) the 6 bases of contact (phassāyatanā), (3) the 18 mental investigations (manopavicāra), and (4) the 4 foundations (adhiṭṭhāna), not flowing with mental conceiving, be called “a sage at peace”.

The doctrine and dhamma concerned with Dhātuvibhaṅga Sutta can be used as the guide in Vipassana meditation practice as to the Buddha said to Pukkusāti. Dhātuvibhaṅga Sutta is all about the contemplation on the 6 elements (dhātu) which are the earth element (paṭhavī), the water element (āpo), the fire element (tejo), the wind element (vayo), the space element (ākāsa), the consciousness element (viññāṇa), also the 6 bases of contact (phassāyatanā) that are the base of eye-contact, the base of ear-contact, the base of nose-contact, the base of tongue-contact, the base of
body-contact, the base of mind-contact, including the 18 mental investigations (manopavicāra), in addition to the 4 foundations (adhiṭṭhāna) consist of paññā, saccâ, cāgâ and upasamâ. The 18 mental investigations (manopavicāra) bring about vedanā as a consequence of the 6 bases of contact (phassāyatanā) in either way. For this reason, 1 of the 3 vedanā: 1) the pleasant feeling 2) the painful feeling 3) neither-painful-nor pleasant feeling would appear as one another factors. It has been said in the commentary about the contemplation of the dhātu is that anyone who desires the highest achievement to attain the Arahantaship by making dhātu consideration before developing the Insight Meditation. He should fix his Pārisuddhi-sīla (morality for purification). Only those who has cultivated moral conduct (sīla) should prevail in meditation practices. The Buddha explained the 6 elements dhātu in the meditation practices, but consider just 4 primary elements that are paṭhavī-dhātu, āpo-dhātu,
tejo-dhātu and vayo-dhātu.The contemplation of Dhātu-manasikāra practice is to consider the body consisted of the said 4 element as only the doctrinal state of dhātu appears by knowing them as they really are. The 2 remained elements; ākāsa-dhātu and viññāṇa-dhātu, as stated in Abhidhamma Pitaka is that those who got adhiṭṭhānadhamma be full of the superior wisdom leading to the cessation of sufferings.

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