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The Pali Canon: Its Role in Buddhism As a Whole

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The Pali Canon: Its Role in Buddhism As a Whole EDUQAS A level R.S. Buddhism Knowledge Organiser: Theme 1D The Pali Canon: its role in Buddhism as a whole Key concepts • Largest collection of • The Vinaya Pitaka, (‘basket of discipline’), contains • The Sutta Pitaka contains teachings such as • The Abhidhamma Pitaka contains philosophical teachings which Buddhist scriptures in within it the Patimokka, the rules and regulations the Four Noble Truths which are Buddha vacana are complex and regarded as advanced teaching mainly for those in the the ancient Indian governing the monastic sangha. (‘word of the Buddha’) and the Dhammapada monastic sangha. language of Pali with • There are 227 rules for bhikkhus and 311 for and Jataka Tales which are accessible and • The seven sections of the Abhidhamma Pitaka present a detailed the first written version bhikkhunis these are thought to have been introduced applicable to the fourfold Sangha. account of Buddhist doctrine particularly of samsara and of the mind. 1st century BCE. by the Buddha and developed during his lifetime. • The suttas show the Buddha’s various • The Abhidhamma Pitaka is regarded as commentary and interpretation • Tipitaka (‘three baskets’) • In the Vinaya, there are detailed rules and teaching strategies adapted to his audience – of the Buddha’s teaching put together by the 3rd century CE at the Third refers to the storage of regulations and guidance on how to settle disputes this shows him using upaya (‘skilful means’). Council. the texts: the three in the monastic sangha including the four parajikas • From the five collections of sayings and • The Pali Canon is easily accessible via the internet and other media and ‘baskets’ (pitaka), are (rules against sexual inter course, stealing, murder and sermons in the Sutta Pitaka, the life of the has therefore become more important in Buddhism particularly in the West. the Vinaya Pitaka, the falsely declaring supernatural powers) the breaking of historical Buddha can be constructed. • Its three parts have varying significance for the different members of Sutta Pitaka and the the fourfold sangha depending on the level of Buddhist practice. which leads to expulsion from the monastic sangha. • The Dhammapada presents a summary Abhidhamma Pitaka. • Sangiti (‘rehearsal’) refers to the meeting of Buddhists and recitation of • Within the Theravada monastic sangha, the Vinaya of the Buddha’s wisdom and is very popular, the dhamma as found in the Pali Canon – this continues in the monastic and its three parts (the Suttavib hanga, the Khandhaka whilst the Jatakas are stories in which the sangha today and shows the role of the Pali Canon particularly in and the Parivara) have normative authority over the Buddha appears as both human and animal individual and their interaction with others. Theravada. in illustrating key Buddhist beliefs and ethical • All Buddhists would accept the importance of the Pali Canon in that it teaching. presents in detail the fundamentals of what the Buddha taught. Canon Suttavibhanga ‘Should any bhikkhu, angered and displeased, raise the Key arguments/debates palm of his hand against (another) bhikkhu, it is to be Key words Paravira confessed. Should any bhikkhu charge a bhikkhu with Some focus on the Pali Canon as central to parajikas Tipitaka Khandhaka an unfounded offence, it is to be confessed.’ (from the Buddhist belief and practice. Vinaya Pitaka) Canon Suttavibhanga UpayaOthers focus much suttasmore on the Buddha,dham the - dharma or the sangha. ‘Take refuge in the Buddha, the dharma, and the sangha, Paravira parajikas mas Patimokka Bud- Issues for and you will grasp the Four Noble Truths: suffering, Tipitaka Khandhaka Key questions Key dhaShould vacana the Pali Theravadin Canon be seen as of signifiDasa- the cause of suffering, the end of suffering, and the Upaya suttas analysis and Noble Eightfold Path that takes you beyond suffering. cance only for the monastic sangha? sila quotes That is your best refuge, your only refuge.’ (from the dhammas Patimokka Could the Vinaya Pitaka (given its patriarchal evaluation Dhammapada) Theravadin Dasa sila simabackground) be updated? ‘The Pali Canon is a complex tapestry of linguistic and sima Buddha vacana Do the different approaches taken to the Pali rhetorical styles…with conflicting ideas, doctrines and Canon by some Mahayana schools of Bud- images, all assembled and elaborated over about four dhism, convert Buddhists and heritage Bud- centuries. The canon does not speak with a single voice’. dhists undermine its role today? (Batchelor).
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