Guidelines of Four Foundation of Mindfulness Development in Bodhipakkhiyadhamma for Support the Insight Meditation Practice

Abstract

This research article investigates on 3 objectives: (1) to study the Four Satipaṭṭhāna in Bodhipakkhiyadhamma, (2) to examine Buddhist teachings supporting the practice of Vipassana meditation, and (3) to propose guidelines for the Four Foundations of Mindfulness development in Bodhipakkhiyadhamma to enhance the practice of Vipassana meditation. This was qualitative research conducted through documentary analysis, drawing data from Theravada Buddhist scriptures and related documents. The findings are summarized, analyzed, organized, and presented in a descriptive narrative. The research findings indicated that guidelines for cultivating the Four Foundations of Mindfulness in  Bodhipakkhiyadhamma to support Vipassana meditation are divided into four foundations: 1) practitioner with effort, mindfulness, and wisdom contemplates on body in six aspects to see them as they truly are: breath mindfulness, postures observing, clear comprehension, observing the 32 parts of the body, 4 elements, etc., to understand the Three Characteristics of the body and avoid heedlessness, 2) practitioner with effort, mindfulness, and wisdom contemplates on feelings in nine aspects to perceive the Three Characteristics: pleasant, painful, neutral feelings, pleasant feelings with attachment, pleasant feelings without attachment, painful feelings with attachment, painful feelings without attachment, neutral feelings with attachment, and neutral feelings without attachment, to recognize suffering, happiness, and the practice of letting go without clinging, 3) practitioner with effort, mindfulness, and wisdom contemplates on the mind to see the Three Characteristics in 16 aspects, such as knowing when the mind has lust or is free from lust, or when it is not liberated from defilements, to maintain mindfulness of one’s mental state and avoid being swayed by craving and defilements, 4) practitioner with effort, mindfulness, and wisdom contemplates Dhamma in five aspects to perceive the three characteristics: Five Hindrances, Five Aggregates, Twelve Sense Bases, Seven Factors of Enlightenment, and Four Noble Truths, to understand suffering, its cause, its cessation, and the path to its cessation, thereby supporting the progressive development of Vipassana meditation. The knowledge derived from this research is structured as the “KVCD Model.”