FOREWORD (not available)
Part One : General Introduction
I.1 Chapter 1 : Introduction
I.1.1 : Title and clarification of the topic
I.1.2 : Scope of the topic
I.2 Chapter 2 : Dependent
Origination as the Ultimate Truth of Life
I.2.1 : Indian Society and Thought before the Advent of
I.2.2 : Lord Buddha's way to the Noble Truth
Part Two : Dependent Origination
II.1 Chapter 1: The Meaning of
II.1.1 : Cause-Causal Law-Causal Happening - Things as
Having Causally Happened
II.1.2 : The meaning of the twelve Causes
II.1.3 : The operation of the twelve Elements of Dependent Origination
II.2 Chapter 2: In the Light of
II.2.1 : The outlook on Life and Universe
II.2.2 : Dependent Origination and Individual Problems
II.2.3 : Individual and Environment
II.2.4 : Individual and Human Values
Part Three : The concept of personality revealed
through the Pancanikaya
III.1 Chapter 1: Contemporary
III.1.1 : Concept of Personality
III.1.2 : Features of Personality
III.1.3 : Review of typical personality theories
III.2 Chapter 2: Man is
III.2.1 : The meaning of Pancakkhandha
III.2.2 : The operation of Pancakkhandha
III.2.3 : The Five Aggregates and the problem of suffering and happiness
Part Four : Pancakkhandha and Individual problems
IV.1 Chapter 1: Individual Desire
IV.1.1 : Sensual desire
IV.1.2 : Sexual desire
IV.1.3 : Desire for Existence
IV.1.4 : Desire for Non-Existence
IV.1.5 : Regard of Wisdom
IV.2 Chapter 2: Five Aggregates
and Individualized Education
IV.2.1 : Individualized Education
IV.2.1 : Individualized Education (continued)
IV.2.2 : Pancakkhandha & old, new Kamma
IV.2.3 : Cultivation of the five aggregates and Education
Part Five: Conclusion
V.1 Chapter 1: A New Course of
Education and Culture
V.1.1 : New course of Education
V.1.2 : New course of Culture
V.2 Chapter 2: Solutions for
V.2.1 : Solution for "Thought crisis"
V.2.2 : Solution for "Desire crisis"
V.2.3 : Solution for "Heart crisis"
V.2.4 : Solution for "Emotional crisis"
V.2.5 : Solution for "Morality crisis"
V.2.6 : Solution for "Environmental crisis"
V.2.7 : Solution for 'Educational crisis"
Index (not available)
I. Name Index
II. Discourse Index
III. Subject Index
I. Primary sources
II. Secondary sources
Diagrams (not available)
-Diagram 1 : Indian Thoughts
-Diagram 2 : Indian Thoughts before Buddhist Era classified in Buddhist Texts
-Diagram 3 : Indian Thoughts and Western Thoughts classified in the three spheres of
-Diagram 4 : Personality theories for Education
-Diagram 5 : Individuals problems and their solutions
-Diagram 6 : Buddhist spirits of Education for the wholeness of man
Buddhism is often understood as a religion or an ethical
way of life for the Buddhists. Not so many articles consider it as a way of education.
Even in a very well-known educational work entitled "Theories of Personality" by
Calvin S. Hall and Gardner Lindzey, published in 1991, 3rd Edition, there is only one new
chapter on "Eastern Psychology" discussing Abhidhamma, in sixteen pages, as an
Eastern personality theory. In this research work, the author has made an attempt to
present Lord Buddha's teachings recorded in the Pali Suttapitaka as a theory of
personality on which a new course of education or culture may be based. The author began
his work from the starting point of the current crises of human society, then came to Lord
Buddha's concept of personality, then to the solutions for those crises. The author was
aware of difficulties that he would come across during the period of proceeding with the
work, but under the kind and interesting supervision and encouragement from his
supervisor, Dr. Bhikshu Satyapala, he worked on the chosen topic, "The Concept of
Personality revealed through the Pancanikaya", with confidence, especially after the
topic was admitted by The Board of Research Studies for the Humanities, Delhi University,
through its meeting held on February 16, 1994.
The author has divided his research work into five parts:
1. Introduction of the topic.
2. Dependent Origination as the Noble Truth.
3. The Concept of Personality revealed through the Pancanikaya.
4. Five Aggregates and Individual problems.
5. Conclusion: A new course of education or culture, and solutions for the current crises.
The author does not mention a human being as an entity
having a permanent nature, but as a conditioned existence or a process of becoming. In
doing this, the author has a hope that this research work will present something
interesting to the world of education.
On the completion of this work, the author would like to
express his sincere gratitude to Dr. K.T.S. Sarao, Head of the Department of Buddhist
Studies, Delhi University, who gave him kind advice, to Dr. Reader, Bhikshu Satyapala who
kindly supervised the whole work to its completion. He would also like to express his
sincere gratitude to other Professors, Readers and Lecturers of the Department of Buddhist
He is also extremely grateful to the I.C.C.R. of the
Indian Government for granting him a scholarship for M. Phil. and Ph.D. Studies, to
Vietnamese Government for giving him permission to go to Delhi to pursue research in
Buddhist Studies, and to Dr. Bhikkhu THICH MINH-CHAU, the Rector of the Vietnam Buddhist
Research Institute, who always encouraged him to think of a Buddhist way of Education.
Last but not the least, the author does not fail to
express here his gratitude to those whose works proved very useful source of reference for
Bhikkhu THICH CHON-THIEN (NGUYEN
Department of Buddhist Studies
University of Delhi, Delhi - 110007, India
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