Buddhist Scriptures

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Buddhist Scriptures

• Dhamma

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Teachings of the Buddha

• Originally passed on orally.
• People were used to remembering things off by
  heart as writing was not common practice.
• Meetings of Buddhists at special places during
  rainy seasons when recent teachings were passed
  on.
• The rainy season lasts for many weeks plenty of
  time for discussion and learning.

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The First Council

• During the first rainy season after the Buddha
  died (usually given as around 483BCE), Buddhists
  met to gather all his teachings together and
  agree on what he said.
• 500 senior members of the Sangha made up what is
  known as the First Council and started to work
  through all of the Buddhist teachings to decide
  which ones were definitely taught by the Buddha.
• This work was confirmed almost one hundred years
  later by a second council at Vaisali in around
  386 BCE.

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Canonisation

• By the first century CE, the works were
  officially collated and organised (canonised).
• These original teachings are known as the Pali
  Canon, and are the main scriptures of Theravada
  Buddhism.
• The Pali Canon is accepted by all Buddhists,
  although schools other than Theravada also accept
  later works.
• The Pali Canon is made up of the Tripitaka (Three
  Baskets). These are three different collections
  of writing.

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Tripitaka (Three Baskets)
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Other Scriptures

• There are also non-canonical works that are
  considered important teaching aids in Buddhism.
• For example, The Questions of King Milinda is
  one we have already looked at.
• Mahayana Buddhists accept many other scriptures
  (as well as the Tripitaka) as canonical texts
  they are written in many languages and are
  considered as newer revelations of the Buddhas
  teaching, still carrying the authority of the
  Buddha.
• Theravada Buddhists would usually not accept
  these as authentic.

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The Dhammapada

• Part of the Pali Canon (Sutta Pitaka basket).
• Used by all Buddhists.
• Said to be the actual words of the Buddha.
• It argues between the foolish person, and the
  wise person who understands the path of Buddhism.
• It aims to win the reader over to Buddhism by
  logic, verse, prose, and clever argument!
• This is the main text you will need to use.