Complete overview of year 13 (A-level) Buddhism. Including summaries and explanations of every topic, strengths and limitations as well as scholarly quotes. The topics include; religious figures and sacred texts, significant historical developments in religious thought, significant social and histo...
The Pali Canon
The Pali Canon is scripture within the Theravada Buddhist tradition, as preserved in the Pāli
language. It is the most complete extant early Buddhist canon. The name means 'the
doctrine of the elders' (the elders being senior Buddhist bhikkhu). The Pali Canon is the
authentic teachings of Gautama Siddhartha (later the Buddha) and have been
preserved/handed down.
"Many... scholars see Theravada as the 'real' or 'original'' Buddhism, as they first became
familiar with the Theravada scriptures (the Pali Canon)" - Denise Cush
The Pali Canon is made up of 'three baskets':
- The Vinaya Pitaka or Basket of Discipline
- The Sutta Pitaka or Basket of Discourses
- The Abhidhamma Pitaka or Basket of Higher Teachings
They were originally written on palm leaves during the fourth Buddhist council, over 400
years after the death of the Buddha.
Pros (/Importance) of the Pali Canon:
- Contains the Buddha's life story and his teachings, which form the foundation of
Buddhism.
- Thought to be the oldest complete canon within Buddhism
- Extremely important to Theravada Buddhists
- Extremely important to the Sangha
- Most Buddhists are united in going for refuge to the Buddha, the dharma and the
sangha. Since the Pali Canon provides the source for information about the historical
Buddha, the teaching of the Buddha and the rules for the sangha, does this not make
the Pali Canon of absolute importance to the majority of Buddhists?
- It might be argued that the Tipitaka is of even more importance to Buddhists today
because with the internet much of it has become part of the “cyberdharma” and is
very easily accessible for study, chanting and meditation.
Cons of the Pali Canon:
- How reliable a source is the Pali Canon given that it was written down some 400
years after the death of the Buddha? To what extent should the oral tradition
between the death of the Buddha and the written form of the Pali Canon be relied
upon as preserving key parts of the teaching?
- The Pali Canon is only important for Theravada Buddhists and has no real
importance for other Buddhists. (e.g. Mahayana Buddhists are more likely to study
the Mahayana scriptures)
- Buddhists who are laypeople have very little need of the whole of the Pali Canon and
so its overall importance is limited.
, *These pros and cons also apply to the Vinaya pitaka, the Sutta pitaka and the Abhidhamma
pitaka as well as the specific pros and cons of each of them.
Vinaya Pitaka
In both Sanskrit and Pali, the term Vinaya means 'discipline'. The Vinaya Pitaka is the
authority that the Theravada sangha strictly abides by. The Vinaya itself is also split into
three sections. The Vinaya directs the sangha in two ways: through their daily interactions
with others and for their own spiritual path and development.
Within the Vinaya is the Patimokka which are rules for the sangha to follow. There are 227
rules for bhikkhu and 311 rules for bhikkhuni. This code of conduct was thought to have
been introduced by the Buddha and developed as the sangha grew during the Buddha's
ministry, each rule has a reason stated by the Buddha. The Patimokkha is recited today by
the monastic sangha of Theravada every two weeks. There are also 4 main rules called the
4 Parajikas:
1. No sex
2. No stealing
3. No murder
4. No lying about spiritual status
If bhikkhu or bhikkhuni break a parajika they are expelled from sangha and not allowed to
ever become a bhikkhu or bhikkhuni again. The other rules have different consequences
including a meeting of the sangha, confessions and training.
There are an extra 8 important rules that must be followed by bhikkhuni including:
- No bhikkhuni can criticise a bhikkhu
- No bhikkhuni can officially admonish a bhikkhu
"The purpose of the Vinaya rules was to provide ideal conditions for meditation" - Conze
"If a monk breaks one of the four parajikas - he is expelled from the community for life" -
Thanissaro
*
Pros of the Vinaya Pitaka:
- The Vinaya Pittaka is important in maintaining the relationship of the Sangha
- Provides the ideal conditions for meditation (Conze)
- Regarded as the oldest part of the Tripitaka with the Buddha himself establishing
rules for the Sangha.
- The Patimokkha is recited today by the monastic sangha of Theravada every two
weeks - shows significance
- Same rules since it was written, has worked for this long.
Cons of the Vinaya Pitaka:
- Not relevant to the laypeople
- Misogynistic (227 rules for bhikkhu vs 311 rules for bhikkhuni)
- Not relevant today (Not to be found alone with a woman in a remote place that can
raise suspicions about sexual intercourse.)
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