AN ANALYTICAL STUDY OF DEVADATTA'S PURSUIT OF POLITICAL POWER IN THE TIPITAKA

Abstract

The research article, “An Analytical Study of Devadatta's pursuit of political power in the Tipitaka” has three objectives: 11) To study the context of the concept of power and the pursuit of political power. 2) To study the pattern of Devadatta's pursuit of political power in the Tipitaka. 3) To analyze the pattern of Devadatta's pursuit of political power in the Tipitaka. This qualitative research examined data from primary and secondary texts, as well as recommendations from experts. These data were synthesized, analyzed, and presented descriptively. The results revealed that "power" is closely related to "politics," with political actors often seeking power through both conventional means, such as elections or appointments, and irregular means, such as revolutions or coups. In the life story of the Buddha, Devadatta was a renowned monk during the Buddha's time who sought power over the Sangha in place of the Buddha. He collaborated with King Ajatashatru to stage a coup against King Bimbisara, while he himself attempted to seize power from the Buddha for a shared power. The analysis revealed that Devadatta's methods of seeking power ranged from light to heavy, beginning with a request to rule the Sangha. Unsuccessful, he declared a split in the Sangha, and finally attempted to assassinate the Buddha, but ultimately unsuccessful.