The Process of Promoting the Mental Development according to Principle of Kāyānupassanāsatipaṭṭhāna

Abstract

The research paper contains 3 objectives: (1) to study Kāyānupassanāsatipaṭṭhāna in Mahasatipaṭṭhāna Sutta, (2) to study mental development in Theravada Buddhist scriptures, and (3) to study the process of promoting the mental development according to the teaching of Kāyānupassanāsatipaṭṭhāna. It was qualitative research conducted by document survey and additional key informants for research strength-in-depth interviews of 11 experts/Vipassanā master,  11 Bhikkhus/Vipassanā teachers and 4 Vipassana meditator in total.

The process of promoting the mental development according to the teaching of Kāyānupassanāsatipaṭṭhāna is the following the mentioned method of mind progress by using its tools-diligence, awareness, and mindfulness, observing the true nature of body in the body as just the physical conditions, without beings, person, or self, I and others. The process starts from observing in-out breathing, being mindful of various postures with awareness, being conscious in every moment, clarifying the bodies’ components of all waste in flesh body, such as hair, nails, teeth, skin, flesh, tendons, bones, etc., considering many diseases in one’s flesh body as just elements and contemplating on the unbeauty of one’s body and mind as the corpse in various conditions, the practitioners’ mind will enter into the true knowledge and wisdom realizing Three Common Manners-rise and falls, consequently attain the Noble Path, Fruits, and Nibbana in the end. The knowledge gained from the research is the development of the mind by having diligence, awareness, and mindfulness, considering the body in the body as just a body, not an animal, a person, a self,  considering own breathing in and out in all various postures with awareness.