Abstract

                 This thesis has three objectives, to study the Indriyasamvara-sīla appearing in the Theravāda Buddhist doctrins and to study Vipassanā-bhāvanā and related Dhamma appearing in the in the Theravāda Buddhist doctrins and to study the practice of Indriyasamvara-sīla in Vipassanā meditation practice. Clarified and analyzed data are taken from the Theravāda Buddhist scriptures namely, the Tipitaka , Buddhist commentaries, sub-commentaries and other related scriptures such as the Visuddhimagga then composed, explained in details and verified by Buddhist scholars.

The research found that Indriyasamvara-sīla or restraint of the senses helps prevent, disallow or prohibit unwholesome course of action in to practitioner’s mind with the controlling of the six Indriya (faculties) namely the eye, the ear, the nose, the tongue, the body, the mind so that one does not feel glad or unhappy when seeing, listening, smelling, tasting and touching tangible objects. One should be able to exercise cautious guard against sensual desires when one recognizes feeling through any six senses-doors.

For the Four Foundations of Mindfulness method, its practice is devided into four foundations: Kāyānupassanā (contemplation of the body), Vedanāyānupassanā (contemplation of feelings), Cittānupassanā (contemplation of mind) and Dhammānupassanā (contemplation of mind-objects).Whith this, Bhodipakkhiya-dhamma (virtues partaking of enlightenment) is practiced alongside. Those who have obtained the highest Indriyasamvara-sīla are the noble ones, the Arahant who have depleted himself completely from defilements and from the round of existences. Thus, Indriyasamvara-sīla can be beneficial from the basic level of practice (reducing desires and sufferings) until the highest level (free from al mental intoxication).

The basic practice of Indriyasamvara-sīla is done by mindfulness training so that one’mind and feelings can be controlled when unwholesome course of action appear through  the six senses-doors, so that one will not be persuaded or influenced by sensual desires.

If one is without Indriyasamvara-sīla one would be contented with sensual pleasure while depleased with grief or sadness, thus, bringing oneself as well as other sufferings.

The high-level Indriyasamvara-sīla is practice in the same way as the Four Foundations of Mindfulness’s Vipassanā-bhavana practice. That is, Indriyasamvara-sīla shows the mindful-mind while the Four Foundations of Mindfulness focuses on mindful training, starting from the basic level until reaching its meticulousely level that one could explicitly understand the Four Noble Truths with the support of Bhodipakkhiya-dhamma practice. It can be concluded that Indriyasamvara-sīla brings about benefits for the beginning to the highest levels by reducing defilements and sufferings and free one from all mental intoxication.

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