Buddhist Literature
Buddhist
literature refers to the vast body of written and oral texts that are central
to the teachings and traditions of Buddhism. These texts encompass a wide range
of topics, including the life and teachings of Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha),
philosophy, ethics, meditation practices, and the principles of Buddhist
cosmology.
Buddhist literature is classified into canonical and non-canonical texts. The canonical texts lay down certain basic tenets of Buddhism. The Pali canon of Buddhist sacred literature may be divided into two great classes-the Hinayana canon written chief- ly in Pali, and hence spoken of as the Pali canon; and the Mahayana canon written chiefly in Sanskrit and widely translated into Chinese, Japanese, Tibetan and other Mongolian languages.
Here are some key categories and examples of Buddhist
literature:
Canonical
Texts: These are the foundational scriptures that are
considered authoritative by various Buddhist traditions. The most important
are:
Theravada
Buddhism: The Pali Canon, also known as the Tipitaka,
includes the Vinaya Pitaka (rules for monastic discipline), the Sutta Pitaka
(discourses of the Buddha), and the Abhidhamma Pitaka (philosophical and
doctrinal analysis).
Mahayana
Buddhism: Mahayana traditions have their own set of
scriptures, including the Mahayana Sutras (e.g., the Lotus Sutra, Heart Sutra,
Diamond Sutra) and various commentaries.
Commentaries: Throughout Buddhist history, scholars and monks have written commentaries
on the canonical texts to explain and elaborate on their meaning. These
commentaries help interpret and apply the teachings to specific contexts.
Biographical
and Historical Texts: These texts provide accounts
of the life of the Buddha and the history of Buddhism. The
"Buddhacharita" by Ashvaghosha is one such famous biographical text.
Jataka Tales: These stories recount the previous lives of the Buddha, illustrating moral
lessons and virtues. They are found in both canonical and non-canonical
sources.
Abhidharma: Abhidharma texts delve into the systematic analysis of Buddhist
teachings, categorizing and elaborating on concepts found in the sutras.
MeditationManuals: These texts provide instructions on various
meditation techniques and practices, including mindfulness (Satipatthana) and
concentration (Samatha).
PhilosophicalTreatises: Buddhist philosophy is a significant component of
Buddhist literature. Important works include Nagarjuna's"Mulamadhyamakakarika" and Vasubandhu's "Abhidharmakosa."
Zen Koans: In Zen Buddhism, koans are paradoxical statements or questions that serve
as meditation objects to help practitioners attain insight. Examples include
"What is the sound of one hand clapping?"
TibetanBuddhist Texts: Tibetan Buddhism has its own
extensive literature, including texts on Tibetan Buddhist philosophy, tantra,
and practices like Dzogchen.
ModernBuddhist Literature: Contemporary authors and
scholars continue to write books and articles on Buddhism, addressing its
relevance to contemporary issues and challenges.
Sutras from
Other Buddhist Schools: There are various
Buddhist schools and traditions, each with its own set of texts. For example,
the Pure Land tradition has its own Pure Land Sutras, while the Chan (Zen)
tradition has texts like the Platform Sutra.
Buddhist
literature plays a vital role in preserving and transmitting the teachings and
wisdom of Buddhism across different cultures and historical periods. It serves
as a valuable resource for practitioners, scholars, and those interested in
exploring the rich philosophical and spiritual traditions of Buddhism.
Buddhist literature refers to the vast body of written and oral texts that are central to the teachings and traditions of Buddhism. These texts encompass a wide range of topics, including the life and teachings of Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha), philosophy, ethics, meditation practices, and the principles of Buddhist cosmology.
The Pali canonical books consist of three parts
collectively known as the Tripitakas (the three baskets) which were
reduced to writing between 350 BCE and 90 BCE.
The Vinaya Pitaka is one of the three parts that make up
the Tripitakas. Its primary subject matter is the monastic.The Vinaya has three
divisions:
- Sutta-vibhangha (Divisions of Rules)
- Khandhaka (Sections)
- Parivara (Accessary), a short summary of the
rules and how to apply them.
second one Sutta Pitaka (300BCE)
It consists of five nikaya or collections of aphorisms, precepts and discourses for the laity. They are mentioned as follows:
- Digha nikaya, a
collection of long sermons and an account of Buddha's last speeches and
his death and the funeral ceremonies.
- Majihima
nikaya, a collection dealing with the relation of Buddha to the Jainas and
others, various forms of asceticism, and a long enumeration of offences
and the punishments.
- Samyutta nikaya
discusses Buddhist doctrine and many sayings of Buddha;
- Anguttara nikaya, a
collection of sermons arranged in ascending numerical order, enumerating
doctrines and principles;
- Khuddaka nikaya
comprises 15 books of miscellanea which are essential for an understanding
of Buddhism. The important ones are:
1.The Jatakas comprises stories of Buddha's former lives, which are among the most ancient fables in the world of literature.
2.The Theragatha and the Therigatha, the Songs of the Male and Lady Elders, containing religious lyrical poetry of a high order.
3.The other important books under Khuddaka nikaya are: KhuddakaPath, Dharamapada, Udana, Ittivuttan,
Suttanipata, Vimanavathu, etc.
The third one Abhidhamma Pitaka
It deals with the same subjects as the Sutta Pitaka, but in a more scholastic manner. It consists of supplementary philosophical dissertations and expositions of the finer points of mind training, psychology and dogma. Of its seven books, the Dhammasangani provides a good exposition of Buddhist philosophy, psychology and ethics. The Kathavat- thu (or Vinnanapada), ascribed to Moggaliputta Tissa, is valuable for the light it throws on the evolution of Buddhist dogma.
PaliNon-Canonical Texts: are the next body of Buddhist scriptures which were composed some time
during the Bactrian Greek and the Kushana periods of In- dian history, since
these foreigners favoured the Mahayana form of the religion that had been
evolving ever since the first Buddhist schism.
• TheMilindapanho (130 BCE) which relates how the sage Nagasena converts the Bactrian Greek king Menander (Milinda) to Buddhism. • Another work, the Mahavastu (75 BCE) presents some Hinayana doctrines along with additional metaphysics of the Mahasanghika (proto-Mahayana) sects.
• TheLalitavistara (30 BCE), an anonymous biography of Buddha, contains some Hinayana material, but is largely Mahayanist.
• TheDipavamsa (350 CE), of unknown authorship, speaks of introduction of Buddhism into Ceylon by Asoka's son Mahinda. • The Mahavamsa (550 CE), composed by the monk Mahanama and based on a lost work, tells the same story in greater details giving the island's history up to 350 CE.
Sanskrit Texts
The period between the second and sixth centuries BCE is that of the Mahaya- na classics and the age of the great translations. The scriptures are presented in a series of dialogues, discourses and sermons, delivered by Buddha in what is called the sutra (Pali, Sutta) form, and generally known as the Vaipulya Sutras or 'expanded discourses'. They were translated into Chinese, and from Chinese into Japanese and Tibetan, and several sutra works exist only in these versions, the originals being lost.
The task of codifying the Mahayana doctrines is associated with such scholars as Nagarjuna (100 CE), founder of the Madhyamika school and compiler of sev- eral Mahayana works such as, Madhyamika Karika; Asvaghosha (100 CE), author of the Buddhacharita, a poetic biography of Buddha, besides other notable works; and the brothers Asanga and Vasubandhu (fourth century CE), founders of the Yo- gachara school, and authors of numerous Mahayana texts.
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