AN ANALYTICAL STUDY OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CAKKAVATTI SUTTA

Abstract

This Paper has 3 objectives namely:-   1) to study the structure of contents of the Cakkavattisutta, 2) to study Dhammas of the Buddha in Cakkavattisutta, and 3) to analyze the importance of the Cakkavattisutta. This thesis is of qualitative approach of study; the sources of the study had been collected from Tipitaka and the related documents of this study.

The results of the study were as follows:

Cakkavattisutta is related to the emperor; The Buddha preached this Sutta to monks and people in Matula City while he was staying at Matula City of Magadha State. This Sutta has been divided into three sections. They are: I) Prologue:  It is the introductory content of the Sutta which the Buddha advised monks to refuge Dhamma and themselves with the four foundation of mindfulness (4 Satipatthanas), Ii) Exposition: it is the explanatory section of the Sutta. In this section, the Buddha had brought the stories both in the previous and in the future as the personification to teach monks, and in the last story of this section, The Buddha mentioned to the next Buddha (Sri Ariya Mettaiya Buddha) and, Iii) conclusion:- it is the summarized section of the sutta; it shows that one who follows dhammas would obtain long life, beautiful skin, happiness, affluence, and strength. in summing up, this sutta intends to show: i) the way to attain the ultimate goal of buddhism emphasizing in dhamma and themselves, and ii) the way to govern state with 12 universal monarch (12 cakkatvattivatras) for problem-resolution of the society in three levels, viz., individual, family, and society as a whole.

Dhammas of the Buddha in Cakkavattisutta consist of: 1) foundations of mindfulness (Satipatthanas), 2) the duties of the administrators (Cakkatvattivatras), 3) the moral codes that control one’s behavior (Sila), 4) Kamma and its results,   5) Dhamma that makes ones long lived (Itthipãda), 6) the state of being ascetic, 7) Absorption (Jhãna)--Dhamma that makes ones happy 8) the unbounded states (Appamaññã)—Dhamma that provides one’s wealth), and 9) the deliverance (Vimutti)—Dhamma that provides strength to ascetics who have exertion. these nine dhammas are as the components that supplement and support each other till reaching the ultimate goals both worldly and Supramundane one, that is to say, the ultimate goal of worldly life is to becoming the emperor, whereas the Supramundane goal is called Nibbãna.

from the importance of the Cakkavattisutta as mentioned above, it was found that this sutta would like to present the principles aiming at developing the quality of life with self-refuge having four foundation of mindfulness as the leading role; in addition, this Sutta would also like to show the system of the good governance or the righteous governance by way of Dhamma—giving protection to men and animal righteously by giving materials to poor people, and promoting of morality by applying  five precepts to be the system of administration of the state. this system aims at advising people to set themselves in the right course— people live life with helping each other; there has also to be the method of associating with good man, that is to say, education system would be well established in order to give opportunities to people to do good.