Abstract:
This thesis has three objectives namely, 1) to study the method of eliminating grief in the Tipiṭaka, 2) to study the structures and essences of Salla-Sutta, and 3) to analyze the method of eliminating grief in the Salla-Sutta. This study used documentary research by content analysis of data and descriptively presented.
The result of the study found that Tipiṭaka, many people who were grieving the loss of a beloved person appeared in various suttas i.e., Paṭācārā, Kīsāgotamī, Nārada-Sutta, Visākha-Sutta. It also appeared in various Jātakas such as Uraga-jātaka, Migapotaka-jātaka, Maṭṭhakuḍalī-jātaka, etc. The Lord Buddha compared the suffering occurring to a person who is grieving a loss like when stuck by that dart, he runs around in all directions, running from this life to the next life. But when that simply on pulling it out, he neither run around nor sink down. The darts mean defilements which consist of seven kinds; sensual pleasures, anger, deluded, conceit, view, grieve, and doubt.
The structure and essence of Salla-Sutta is the discourse on the simile of allow, it is found in the 8th sutta of the Mahāvagga of the Suttanipāta in the Tipitaka Vol. 25 (MCU version). There are 20 verses (gatha) in the contents and essences, which mention a householder whose son had recently died who could not abandon his grief, and who never meals for 7 days. When the Lord Buddha knew that going to his house to give him the sermon with the verses, it can be summarized into 3 groups; (1) verse on death, (2) verse on grief, and (3) Verse on Eliminating grief.
The method for overcoming grief is mentioned in the Salla-Sutta, where the Lord Buddha teaches how to let go of grief by likening it to removing an arrow of defilement from the mind. This practice leads the ordinary person to become a Noble Person. The analysis is divided into 2 issues: 1) the loss of a beloved person and acceptance of losing a beloved person by considering the recollection to be frequently practiced which consists of 5 things; (1) it is our nature to grow old and we cannot bypass the condition of old age, (2) it is our nature to feel pain and we cannot bypass the condition of painful feeling, (3) it is our nature to die and we cannot bypass the condition of death, (4) we are bound to be parted from all things which we love and all things which make us happy and contented, and (5) We have Kamma as our own possession, if we do good we will receive good, if we do evil we will receive evil. In conclusion, the layman in the Salla-Sutta is an ordinary one, because he hasnt considered nature to die, he still mourning and grieving for his son. Death does not belong to us but belongs to all living beings who came by birth, and finally dead. After listening to the verses of the Lord Buddha, he can be relieved of grief and accept losing the beloved person. It can be seen that it is our nature to die and we cannot bypass the condition of death. And 2) the analysis of eliminating grief by considering the 3 principles: (1) Eliminating grief by Yonisomanasikāra: critical thinking, (2) Eliminating grief by the Three Characteristics, and (3) Eliminating grief by the Four Noble Truths. When a householder practiced and abandoned his grief by removing an arrow of grief and defilement from the mind.