Sacred Texts in Buddhism

By Kristen Brady, Beth Conlon, Stephanie

Lighter, Kevin Nguyen, and Molly Shawhan

Life of Buddha

Beth

Birth– Born in 563 B.C.E.

in Lumbini Kept indulged until…

• Suddhodana, Maya

– At 29, he sees four sights

• Old man• Disease• Death • Ascetic

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Enlightenment Becomes an ascetic

to save world from suffering– After 6 years does not

have answer Under bodhi tree,

has insight of Middle way: moderation and meditation– Becomes enlightened,

reaches nirvana

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Later Life Deer Park Sermon: Buddha

professed the Middle Way and the Four Noble Truths to his original followers

Dies at 80 at Kusinara reaching parinirvana

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Composition of Tripitaka

Beth

Tripitaka

Language: Pali Definition: the “three baskets”

collection of scriptures that consist of monastic rules, discourses, and supplements to doctrines

Vinaya- Pitaka

“Basket of Discipline” Monastic rules- “texts on

personal and social morality, precepts of monastic orders, and regulations of governing the entire Buddhist community” (Thompson 33)

227 rules for monks

Sutta- Pitaka “Basket of Sutras” (Discourses Teachings of Buddha in

discourses and dialogue Jatakas: stories of the 550

previous lives of Buddha, specifically used in the study of the Theravadin monks

Dhammapada: The Way of Righteousness

– Sayings of Buddha that provide wisdom for all Buddhists

Abhidhamma- Pitaka

“Basket of Further Teachings” Attempts to systemize the

teachings of the sutras Commentaries and analyses of

Sutras Underlying doctrinal principles

reworks and reorganized

CollationPali Canon: Theravada

Molly

Buddha and Oral Tradition

Life and times of Buddha Preferred vernacular tongues (pali) Passed Down

– Buddha– Five Arhats– Monastic Order

Memorize and Chant

http://www.rigpawiki.org/images/f/f3/Buddha16Arhats.JPG

First Buddhist Council

480 BCE, Rajagaha 500 Arhats Reviewed dharma Mahakasyapa: leader Upali: rules Ananda: sermons http://www.indianetzone.com/

photos_gallery/8/FirstCouncil_14432.jpg

Third Buddhist Council 250 BCE Clarify doctrine Stop heresies Shariputra: supplement to

doctrines

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Fourth Buddhist Councils

First century BCE Tipitaka written on palm leaves

Buddhaghosa Fifth century BCE Translated into pali Collected into coherent texts

CollationPali Canon: Mahayana

Kevin

View of Pali Canon Recited by Arhats Authoritative Or attributed to the Boddhisatvas

– Where it is believed that all are the words of Buddha

– Follow Doctrine of Tripitaka– Monks follow rules in Tripitaka

Follow other Sutras

Mahayanan Sutras Authentic account of teachings given

during Buddha’s lifetime Written down at the time of Buddha Further expanded after Buddhism

transmitted to China Examples:

– Lotus– Nirvana

Lotus Sutra Teaching of Mahayana Canon attributed to

Shakyamuni Buddha Developed out of a monastic, meditational

tradition – as oral teachings

Extensive instruction on the concept of the perfection of the Boddhisatva

Buddha eternal entity who achieved nirvana – Chose to remain in samsara to help teach

beings the Dharma time and time again

Nirvana Sutra Buddha never truly dies or becomes

destroyed Only physical form passes away

– Not the ultimate Buddha lying behind it Striking for its teachings on pure self of

the Buddha in interiority of Nirvana Central focus on Buddha-dhatu

– Buddha element present in every individual– Full seeing of this leads end to suffering

Development

Stephanie

Background Info.

During the Buddha's lifetime and for some centuries afterwards nothing was written down

Was not customary to use it for study and teaching

To preserve a large amount of texts meant simply the proper organization of the available information

Pali Canon (Theravada)

Pali literature was preserved in Sri Lanka– Council held under Mahinda: various parts of

the Pali Canon were preserved as oral traditions

– In later times the most notable writer in Pali was Buddhaghosa, who flourished in the 5th century

– Teachings were eventually committed to writing, on palm, leaves

Most of the Pali Canon originated from the Buddha and his immediate disciples

Pali Canon cont. Pali Text Society, founded in London in

1882, has published several hundred volumes of texts as well as English translations of Pali literature

Tradition holds that only a few later additions were made

Knowledge of scripture is an important pursuit in Theravada; It develops wisdom

Mount Shasta (Mahayana)

Central Location for Buddhists in America; Model for temples

It can be a learning and training center as well as a retreat center

Established in 1970, the Buddhists come to study the Buddhist Precepts and the Dharma while maintaining mindfulness

Reverend Master Eko Little

In their True Nature, all things are pure. When a trainee realizes this for himself, the fear of life and death is lost. They are recognized as an aspect of change, the coming into being of an "individual" life. Real Life, the life of Buddha, does not die, nor is it born. ... true spiritual life goes beyond our normal perception of life and death.

Mount Shasta

Agamas (Mahayana)

Agama is a collection of Early Buddhist scriptures– Agamas are preserved in their entirety in

Chinese translation, although portions survive in Sanskrit and Tibetan translation

– Already collected by the time of the first council (held shortly after Buddha’s death)

– Continually growing in number and size; Undergoing various changes

Tantras (Vajrayana)

Refers to numerous and varied practices that would transform pleasures into realization of enlightenment

Earliest tantra grew out of the Hindu tradition.

Vajrayana Buddhists say tantric practices were expounded by the historical Buddha

Languages

Molly

Pali “Tipitaka” Theravada

Buddhism Preferred by

Buddha

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Tipitaka1.jpg

Sanskrit“Tripitaka”Mahayana

Buddhism

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Works Cited "Tipitaka (scripture)." Microsoft Encarta Online

Encyclopedia 2009. 2009. <http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761582215/Tipitaka_(scripture).html>

Bullitt, John T. “The Paracanonical Pali Texts.” Provenance. 2005-2009. <http://www.accesstoinsight.org/noncanon/index.html>

"The Mahayana Tradition." DharmaNet. Web. 19 Oct 2009. <http://www.dharmanet.org/lcmahayana.htm>.

"The Lotus Sutra." Geocities. Web. 19 Oct 2009. <http://www.geocities.com/chris_holte/Buddhism/LotusSutra/index.html>.

"Nirvana Sutra." NirvanaSutra. Web. 19 Oct 2009. <"The Lotus Sutra." geocities. Web. 19 Oct 2009. . >.

"Buddhism After Buddha." Important. Web. 19 Oct 2009. <http://www.important.ca/buddhism_after_buddha.html>

Works Cited “English Translation of Dhammapada”. 17 March 2004.

<http://www.religionfacts.com/buddhism/texts/tripitaka.htm>.

Matthews, Warren. World Religions. 5th ed. Belmont, CA: Thompson Wadsworth, 2007.

Thompson, John M. Introduction to the World’s Major Religions: Buddhism (Volume 3). Ed. Lee W. Bailey. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 2006.

Wangu, Madhu Bazaz. World Religions: Buddhism. 4th ed. New York: Chelsea House, 2009.

“The First Rehersal of the Tipitaka.” BuddhaNet. 2008. <http://buddhanet.net/e-learning/history/s_collect.htm>

“Shasta Abbey Buddhist Monastery.” 2009. <http://www.shastaabbey.org/index.html>