A Developmental Model of Teachings on Natural Laws (Niyāma) in Theravāda Buddhism

This qualitative research work is with three objectives, namely: – (1) to explore the teachings on natural laws (niyāma) as appeared in Tipiṭaka and Commentaries, and to explore the teachings on natural laws (niyāma) from modern scholars’ perspectives and to propose a developmental model of teachings on natural laws (niyāma) in Theravāda Buddhism. Data were collected from documentary and in-depth interviews with 5 key informants. Data were analyzed using content and narrative analysis.
The findings showed that while the worldly natural laws like gravity, motion, thermodynamics, electromagnetism, etc. help explain the universality of natural phenomena in the physical world. The Abhidhamma fivefold cosmic order even gives a greater outlook on life and worldview. This article aims to illustrate how Abhidhamma views the teachings on natural laws (niyāma). The natural laws bind together human beings, animals, plants, and all things in the world and the universe. They also reflect the coherence of beliefs, conditions, and levels of the mundane and the supramundane in a very clear and interesting way. This article will help readers to understand the laws of nature, including the different types of those laws, from the perspective of Abhidhamma, which is unique and distinctive.