Aggregates of Dhamma in Digha Nikaya: A Synthetic Study for the Beginner

Abstract

This research article aims to synthetically study the Dhamma aggregates of the Digha Nikaya as they appear in the Buddhist Dictionary: Dhamma Compilation Edition and the Thai Tipitaka Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya Edition. This is qualitative research using documentary research methods, collecting data from the book "Buddhist Dictionary: Dhamma Compilation Edition" and "Thai Tipitaka Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya Edition." Data was analyzed through structural analysis and synthesized into Dhamma networks. The research findings revealed Dhamma aggregates of the Digha Nikaya in the Buddhist Dictionary comprising 105 or 106 topics and 596 or 633 items, while in the Thai Tipitaka Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya Edition there were 462 topics and 2,600 items. The Dhamma networks consist of: 1) Dhamma categories, with category 4 as the main network; 2) Dhamma types, with type 8 Practice Dhamma as the main network; 3) Dhamma items, with items beginning with "Samma" as the main network; 4) Relationships between Dhamma topics and items, with items beginning with "Dhamma" as the main network.

 The above findings indicate that many Dhamma aggregates of the Digha Nikaya are not referenced in the Buddhist Dictionary. Therefore, the beginners should use the Buddhist Dictionary as a starting point, then study the Dhamma topics in the Thai Tipitaka Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya Edition, and finally, study the complete content of the Tipitaka to fully understand the context of each Dhamma aggregate completely.