“The Four Mindfulnesses Contemplation” as a study of Mahayana Bodhisattva practice

• Main Authors: Shi, ShengYing, 釋聖因
• Other Authors: Ven. Dr. Shih, Jen Hwa
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2012
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/92999406098938117188

碩士 === 華梵大學 === 東方人文思想研究所 === 101 === Abstract Buddhism can be attached to the governance of the development of mental diseases like anxiety, depression, stress, and all kinds of trouble and pain that are created by advancements in technology and modern civilization. In addition, there is the issue of the trend of the degradation of our moral ethics and the loss of direction for our younger generation. In order to reverse the deterioration of this trend, we have to develop the potential of human intelligence and this in turn must rely on the employment of the mental faculty. Buddhism can provide a theoretical basis and implementation of practice. According to Buddhist canon the principles and practice, the “Four Foundations of Mindfulness” is one of the most important practices in the Dharma. “Four Foundations of Mindfulness” is generally considered to be a self-cultivation practice of the Theravada tradition. This thesis, through the utilisation of the three texts, "Agama – Satipatthan Sutta", "Dazhidulun" and Tiantai’s "Four Foundations of Mindfulness"; aims to explore the Four Foundations of Mindfulness, namely mindfulness of the body, feelings, mind, and mental events. This examination will mainly concentrate on its content, the sequence of procedures for the practice, and the different levels of achievement and so on. It is hoped that this will provide further positive support for "Four Foundations of Mindfulness" being not only a practice from the Theravada tradition, but also forms the basis for Mahayana Buddhist practice. According to the classification system of Tiantai’s four transforming teachings: Pitaka, Interrelated, Differentiated, and Complete (All-embracing). The Mahayana relies on the Complete Teaching’s “Three contemplations within one mind thought” being the “Wisdom of emptiness” in achieving the ultimate Buddhahood. The thesis is divided into five chapters. The First Chapter describes the motivation for writing this paper, the research purpose, literature review and research methodology, the scope, and finally the outline of the thesis. The Second Chapter provides a summary of the practice of the Mindfulnesses that are prescribed within "the Agama" – “Classic for the content of the introduction of a self-cultivation. The theme of the Third Chapter is the fascicle of <Four Foundations of Mindfulness> within “Dazhidulun" which investigates its practice and its sequence method of achievements. Chapter Four points out that the characteristics of the “Four Foundations of Mindfulness” within the Complete Teaching, in which the fusion of the theory based Dharma with the integration of the practice. Finally, the fifth chapter utilises “Four Foundations of Mindfulness” to discuss the relevant merit of both the Theravadin and Mayahana tradidions in the provision of effects and benfits for modern day’s ills; furthermore, whether a Mahayana “Four Foundations of Mindfulness” system concept can be set up in the propagation of Buddhism.