An Emptiness (Suññata) in the view of Buddhadāsa Bhikkhu

Abstract

This academic article aims to study emptiness (Suññata) from the perspective of BuddhadāsaBhikkhu. By using the framework of studying the Tipiṭaka and commentaries to point out the principles and methods of emptiness, which can be applied to the concept of Buddhadāsa Bhikkhu through a comparative analysis and teachings in the Tipiṭaka. The results of the study revealed that the Buddha taught about reaching emptiness that one should hold on to it simply without clinging to it as a self. When one can do this, one will reach the emptiness that is said to be. Then, one will have no and see the result of this emptiness as the end of suffering or the end of this brahmacharya. From the perspective of Buddhadāsa Bhikkhu, emptiness refers to the state of mind that is empty of defilements, especially empty of the feeling of being a self, a being, a person, us, or them. The state of not having the feeling of being a self or belonging to oneself is called emptiness. It is a person who does not cling to anything as me or mine, empty of me or mine. He emphasized the principle of reaching emptiness, which focuses on contemplating emotions that rely on the five aggregates and mental formations through the method of paticangkhanupassanā-ñāna, as empty. He considered that That thing has no self in what is determined, it is empty of self, until finally there is only the word "empty", seeing everything as emptiness, that is, as Anattā, there is no us or them, there is only the state of form and name, so as not to cling to the five aggregates of form and name, which are considered the ego, me and mine, and finally to let go, that is, not to be selfish (me and mine), so as to know how to share and help one another, so that society can live happily, considering the benefit of the whole more than personal benefit.