An Analytical Study of the Factors Causing Social Change that Appeared in the Aggan ̃n ̃a Sutta

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to analyze and study the factors causing social change that appeared in the Aggañña Sutta by documentary research. The research was divided into 4 steps: 1) surveying primary document, the Tipitaka and secondary related documents and researches, 2) study the content that appears in the Aggañña Sutta along with documents and related research in details, 3) data were analyzed by using the conceptual framework of the Four Noble Truths and Ithappajjayata, and 4) a summary and descriptive presentation based on research objectives.

The results showed, there are two main factors causing social change in the Aggañña Sutta, namely 1) external factors: food and gender differences of human beings living in society, food is an external stimulus that is the natural environment, food and the human body are related and 2) the intrinsic factor is ignorance that permeates the human mind which has the ability to hide the truth of nature ready to show himself at any time when his mental weakening, external factors act as a stimulus for internal factors to awaken and respond. The response of the intrinsic ignorance to the stimulus is food, the extrinsic factor has resulted in changes immediately and without delay. The social change caused by food and ignorance has changed from a spiritual society to an operating society, everything must be done in order to be successful. Thus, the food and ignorance were beneficial in causing social change throughout the stories that appeared in the Aggañña Sutta. The approaches to solving the problems that can be used to solve the problems of the present society are as follows: 1) when problems arise; people in that society must face each other to find a solution; 2) people in that society must create agreements for coexistence; and 3) ethical principles that everyone must be aware of and strictly adhere to for the welfare of the society.