The Soteriological Significance of Buddhānussati: Path to Liberation or Preliminary Practice

Buddhānussati, the recollection of the Buddha in Theravāda Buddhism, serves multiple soteriological functions beyond being merely a preliminary devotion. It can facilitate access concentration (upacāra samādhi) and the growth of wisdom through contemplation of the Buddha's attributes, potentially paving the way toward liberation (Nibbāna). The practice is not limited to reinforcing faith and ethical behavior but can generate the concentration needed for meditative absorption and subsequent insight, depending on practitioner ability and context.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Abstract This research analyses the value of Buddhānussati (recollection of the Buddha) in Theravāda Buddhism, particularly its implications for soteriology, determining whether this form of meditation paves the way for attaining liberation (Nibbāna) or merely serves as a preliminary devotion. Although Buddhānussati holds a prominent position among the forty meditation objects (kammaṭṭhāna) in classical Theravāda works, the literature reveals significant divergence among scholars regarding its liberative potential. This study employs a hermeneutic and comparative method to analyze the Pāli canon, especially the Aṅguttara Nikāya and Dīgha Nikāya, as well as the commentaries, particularly Buddhaghosa’s Visuddhimagga, to investigate the role of Buddhānussati in soteriology. It explores whether this practice can sufficiently generate the concentration (samādhi) needed for jhānic absorption and the subsequent insight (vipassanā), or if it merely reinforces faith (saddhā) and ethical behaviour (sīla), the means for more advanced practices. The research findings affirm Buddhism’s soteriological teachings and the multiple functions of Buddhānussati, as it facilitates access to or ‘stalking’ concentration (upacāra samādhi) and the ‘growth’ of wisdom through the contemplation of the Buddha’s attributes. The findings affirm that Buddhānussati exhibits multiple soteriological functions beyond the oppositional claim based on practitioner ability, contextual use, and other composite practices. This research enriches modern Buddhist studies by resolving certain theoretical ambiguities and providing guidance for the teaching of meditation in contemporary Theravāda Buddhist communities. .Keywords: Buddhānussati, Soteriological significance, Theravāda Buddhism, Liberation (Nibbāna), Samatha meditation, Vipassanā (insight), Kammaṭṭhāna (meditation objects), Jhāna (meditative absorption), Faith (Saddhā), Pāli Canon, Visuddhimagga, Devotional practice, Buddhist soteriology, Recollection meditation, Path to enlightenment.