Abstract:
The objectives of this study were as follows; 1) to study unwholesome roots and how to relieve unwholesome roots in Buddhism, 2) to study Bala (Power) in Buddhism, and 3) to propose a guideline and a new body of knowledge on relieving unwholesome roots with Bala in Buddhism. The data for this qualitative study were from the Tipitaka, books, documents, and in-depth interviews with 10 monks and 4) experts. The results of the study were presented in a descriptive method.
The results of the study found that:
1. Three unwholesome roots consist of reed, hatred, and delusion. Greed means a strong wish or desire to get something more and more, hatred refers to a strong feeling of dislike, hate, irritation, and ill-will, and delusion designates not understanding the reality of form, feeling, perception, mental formations, and consciousness.
2. Bala or powers are confidence, effort, mindfulness, concentration, and wisdom. Confidence or Saddha can lead to the salvation of unwholesome, effort refers to the Four Great Efforts, mindfulness means the Four Foundations of Mindfulness, concentration is cultivating in meditation, and wisdom means the true knowledge in Dependent Origination, the Five Aggregates, the Twelve Spheres, the Eighteen Elements, and the Four Noble Truths.
3. How to relieve unwholesome roots with Bala in Buddhism is that; 1. Confidence in the Triple Gems, Kamma and its results, merit making, observing the precepts, and cultivating meditation, 2. Effort in avoiding evil, doing good, and purifying the mind in order to be seclusion from unwholesome, 3. Mindfulness in daily life living and foundations of mindfulness to release from unwholesome, 4. Keeping one-pointed of mind in meditation to obtain wisdom, and 5. Having the realization in Dependent Origination, the Five Aggregates, the Twelve Spheres, Eighteen Elements, the Three Common Characteristics, and the Four Noble Truths to relieve the unwholesome roots.
In cultivating Bala, equal adjustment is necessary. Confidence and wisdom are equally adjusted, concentration and efforts are also adjusted equally, and mindfulness is a must in every step.
4. A new body of knowledge on relieving unwholesome roots with Bala in Buddhism is called "LGR Model". When greed is relieved, generosity can occur, when hatred is relieved, loving-kindness is occurred, and delusion is relieved, the Right View is occurred. The one with the Right View can live the life by the Middle Way and realize the suffering in the Four Noble Truths.