This thesis has three objectives. They are: (1) to examine the meaning and the importance of Indrīyasamvara (sense-restraint) in Theravāda Buddhism (2) to study the practices of Indrīyasamvara and the principles involved (3) to provide the method of practice and the application of Indrīyasamvara to Thai societies. From the study, it is found that :-
Indrīyasamvara means obstructing, prohibiting, preventing and guarding the mind from being pulled out to indulge in the sense-object which is the cause of unwholesomeness (akusala). It also refers to the protecting of the mind and the fixing of it on a firm ground in order to be free from being dominated by defilements (kilesa) when an object is found. It can also be called the protection of the sense-doors. The Indrīyasamvara is important to the daily life. It also causes the mental training, the good morality and the peaceful happiness to arise. Moreover, it is also important for practising the Dhamma to the liberation of the defilements. It belongs to the Dhamma category which complete the Three Right Conducts (Sucarita) which causes the concentration (samādhi) and the wisdom to arise. It also leads the practisers to the end of suffering.
The Indrīyasamvara is beneficial in providing the fine happiness arising from the freedom from the defilements and in practicing in the Dhamma and Vinaya. It is very useful for monks and novices in maintaining their lives. Bearing the virtue, thus, they become the great fields of merit. When there is no Indrīyasamvara, there will be a great deal of suffering and distraction from unwholesome thought. As for a Bhikkhu, if he has no Indrīyasamvara he will become indulged in the five sensual pleasures, the fact of which will cause him to disrobe. He, thus, will lose the benefit of his ordination. He will, thus, be born in the lower realms after his death.
In the way of practicing Indrīyasamvara, the Buddha emphasized the the highest benefits that is wisdom realizing the truth in aggregets, up to causing the practisers to see the truth, which is called indrīya-bhāvanā. The main Doctrinal Principle use in the practice of Indrīyasamvara is mindfulness, awareness, unforgetfulness and readiness. The way of practices to be of Indrīyasamvara are the practice of meditation, the non attachment to the sign and the attributes, the selection of the temperaments, the escape from the temperaments, the confrontation of the temperaments with mindfulness, the strict practice of the Vinaya and the making of wise reflection etc. On the other hand, The Indrīyasamvara is of connection with other Doctrinal Principles such as The Threefold Training, The Dependent Origination, The Four Foundation of Mind etc.
The way to apply the Principle of Indrīyasamvara to Thai societies is to use the eyes, the ears, the nose, the tongue, the body and mind rightly with restraint by mindfulness, not to be pleased, not to be non please, knowing how to control oneself, not to do according to one’s own wish and defilements, that is to start with listening to the Buddha’s teaching in order to have Right Understanding, to know the truth and the way to practice to the truth according to the Principle of The Four Noble Truths, to know the happiness to be afraid of and not to be afraid of, to promote the practice of meditation and to give the right education.
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