Transcript BUDDHIST SCRIPTURES

BUDDHIST SCRIPTURES
The oral and written tradition
The Oral Tradition
• Buddha’s lifetime – oral language of
Magadhi (Magadha)
• Advice to Sangha - teach in the
language of the people
• Sangha had to be proficient in many
languages
• Recitations
• Continuous stream of
teachers/students
The Oral tradition
• Three months after the Buddha died –
The 1st Council
• Rajagraha
• Ven Upali/Ven Ananda
• 100 years later – 2nd Council
• Vinaya and Dhamma
• Listening to chanting and recitation
= Pirit (gives protection to the
scripture)
Chanting
• Nichiren students in Japan chant the
title of the Lotus Sutra in Japanese –
“Namu Myotto Renge Kyo” – “I seek
refuge in the Lotus Sutra”
• Tibetan students chant – “Om Mani
Padme Hum” – “Hail the jewel in the
Lotus”
• In China, Pure Land Buddhists chant
– “ namu Amida Butsu” (called the
Nembutsu) – “Praise the Amida
Buddha”
Oral Tradition continued
• The 3rd Council – time of Asoka
• Teaching again recited and agreed
• Vinaya Pitaka and Sutta Pitaka as
before but now the Abhidhamma
Pitaka added – discussions, analysis
and explanations of the Buddha’s
teachings