Publication: Buddhadasa Bhikkhu's concept of empty-mind (Cit-Wang) : a critical study
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2012
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Buddhadasa Bhikkhu's concept of empty-mind (Cit-Wang) : a critical study
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Abstract
There are three main objectives for this research paper. Firstly, it aims at studying Buddhadasa Bhikkhu's view of empty-mind (cit-wang) and also the Canonical Theravada texts. Secondly, it examine Buddhadasa Bhikkhu's concept of "cit-wang" with the idea of suii.natii in the Canonical Theravada texts. Lastly, it aims to study the view of other scholars with regard to "cit-wang" and to examine the application of "cit-wang" in Thai society. This thesis proposes that Buddhadasa Bhikkhu's interpretation of "empty-mind" or "cit-wang" corresponds to the Buddha's teaching as appears in the Pali Canon, and is a practical means that is also relevant to the everyday life of modem day people. The methodology employed is the NettipakaraQa, a Buddhist hermeneutical theory used as a means for eliminating wrong understanding of the Buddha's teachings. This theory includes the research and analysis of primary and secondary texts, such as books, journals and internet resources. This study shows that there were two major causes leading to Buddhadasa Bhikkhu's formulation of the concept of empty-mind or "cit-wang", namely, national problems and Buddhist problems. The national problems arose due to the government policy which placed high importance on material development which led people into an age of materialism. The other cause was Buddhist problems, because Buddhadasa Bhikkhu saw that teaching religion with these old-fashioned methods was not able to satisfy the deeper spiritual needs of human beings in this modem society. Buddhadasa Bhikkhu explained that he coined the term "cit-wang" as an alternative to the word sunnatii. This study found that the concept of "cit-wang" does not stray from the theme of sunnatii as found in the Canonical Theravada texts. Both "citwang" and sunnatii cover the same concept of truth, namely, that all states are empty of a self or things related to the self. However, the states of "cit-wang" and sunnatii (emptiness) also have some differences. Sunnatii is a state of being empty of creatures, people, self, me, him, and her. In other words the word suiinatii means emptiness, because of the fact that there is no self to be found in the world. On the other hand, the specific term "cit-wang" varies slightly from traditional Buddhist teachings in that it is a state of mind that is accompanied by wisdom and is therefore free from the feeling of 'me' and 'mine'. The concept "cit-wang" is a basis of practice that can be applied in everyday life for both lay and monastic practitioners. Buddhadasa Bhikkhu's presentation of the concept of "cit-wang" rested on the explanation of all things (including the mind) having emptiness as their fundamental nature and the potentiality for everybody to be enlightened. Buddhadasa Bhikkhu' s teaching of "cit-wang" met with a variety of both positive and negative criticism, because people's intellectual capacities and realization of Dharnrna are not all of the same degree. Many people were not able to understand the subtleties of Buddhadasa Bhikkhu's teaching method. In fact, when people study the Buddha-Dharnrna in the Pali canon deeply and truly, they will find that Buddhadasa Bhikkhu's reinterpretation and teaching did not stray from the essence of the BuddhaDharnrna, since the conception of "cit-wang" is consistent with the theme of sufifiatii and anattii in the Pali canon. The presentation of linguistics may be different but the purpose it not different.
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ปรัชญาดุษฎีบัณฑิต
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ปริญญาเอก
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บัณฑิตวิทยาลัย
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มหาวิทยาลัยอัสสัมชัญ