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 http://beyondthenet.net/Buddha/gallery/desc2a.htm

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 http://beyondthenet.net/Buddha/gallery/desc6a.htm

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 http://beyondthenet.net/Buddha/gallery/desc7a.htm http://beyondthenet.net/Buddha/gallery/desc24a.htm

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

Collation Pali 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 http://www.indianetzone.com/photos_gallery/21/ThirdCouncil_14432.jpg

Fourth Buddhist Councils First century BCE Tipitaka written on palm leaves Buddhaghosa Fifth century BCE Translated into pali Collected into coherent texts

Collation Pali 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 http://wpcontent.answers.com/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2c/Tipitaka1.jpg/300px-Tipitaka1.jpg

Sanskrit “Tripitaka” Mahayana Buddhism http://images.exoticindiaart.com/books/the_bodhisattva_doctrine_in_buddhist_sanskrit_literature_nab004.jpg

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>