Theravada Scriptures and Folktales
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According to Western translators and scholars of Theravada Buddhism previously thought the written scriptures played a central role in believers' lives, but more recent scholars have found that Buddhist teachings have been vastly passed down orally. Long before written text existed, certain monks were known as specialists in chanting the words of the Buddha, the rules of their order, and the precepts of the right living . Eventually the oral material was written down to and formed into ancient scriptures. In addition to the "canonical scriptures", there has also been famous folktales to Buddhism known as, Jatakas Tales. The tales most commonly teach moral lessons about friendship, virtue, generosity, and involve human beings and animals. The tales begin with Buddha telling the tale and ends with the Buddha saying how he was an animal or human being from the tales in his past life. In addition, these folktales are frequently used in art, dance, and plays in Southeast Asia.
Molloy, Michael (2013). Experiencing World Religions: Tradition, Challenge, and Change. 6th Edition..
Molloy, Michael (2013). Experiencing World Religions: Tradition, Challenge, and Change. 6th Edition..
Jataka Tales (Kids Edition)
Theravada Teachings and Literature
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The teachings of Buddha in the Theravada collection is called the Pali Canon and as a whole is called Tripitaka, which is defined as "three baskets". The name comes from the notion that the material was divided into three subject matters.
- these include: begging, eating, relations with monks, non monks, and other disciplines
Molloy, Michael (2013). Experiencing World Religions: Tradition, Challenge, and Change. 6th Edition..
- First Collection: Vinaya
- these include: begging, eating, relations with monks, non monks, and other disciplines
- Second Collection: Sutra
- Third Collection: Abhidhamma
Molloy, Michael (2013). Experiencing World Religions: Tradition, Challenge, and Change. 6th Edition..
Mahayana Literature
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Mahayana Buddhism in India developed different versions of the Tripitaka in Sanskrit (Molloy 2013). Mahayana works became to be known as "sutras" due to the nature of the words being known as the words of the Buddha, when in reality they were colorful creations written several centuries after the Buddha lived. The basic teachings of these texts were to be of the Buddha's insights.
Prajnaparamita Sutras
- "sutras on the perfection of wisdom"
- earliest written in 100 BCE
- contrast ordinary understanding with the enlightened understanding that everything in the universe depends on each other
Vimalakirti Sutra- teaches that it is possible to live a devout Buddhist life without being a devoted monk
- based on of the sutras being focused on how the hero of the particular sutra was a faithful gentleman full of wisdom, and was not a monk.
Pure Land Sutras- "sutra of the vision of the happy land"
- speaks of a heavenly realm, established by the Buddha, where ultimately human can be reborn
- the Pure Land is simply pure devotion to the Buddha
- gave birth to the "Pure Land Movement"
Saddharma Pundarika Sutra/ Lotus Sutra
- "lotus sutra of the good law"
- Consistently insists that all individuals have the Buddha nature and that all can become Buddha.
Molloy, Michael (2013). Experiencing World Religions: Tradition, Challenge, and Change. 6th Edition.
Prajnaparamita Sutras
- "sutras on the perfection of wisdom"
- earliest written in 100 BCE
- contrast ordinary understanding with the enlightened understanding that everything in the universe depends on each other
Vimalakirti Sutra- teaches that it is possible to live a devout Buddhist life without being a devoted monk
- based on of the sutras being focused on how the hero of the particular sutra was a faithful gentleman full of wisdom, and was not a monk.
Pure Land Sutras- "sutra of the vision of the happy land"
- speaks of a heavenly realm, established by the Buddha, where ultimately human can be reborn
- the Pure Land is simply pure devotion to the Buddha
- gave birth to the "Pure Land Movement"
Saddharma Pundarika Sutra/ Lotus Sutra
- "lotus sutra of the good law"
- Consistently insists that all individuals have the Buddha nature and that all can become Buddha.
Molloy, Michael (2013). Experiencing World Religions: Tradition, Challenge, and Change. 6th Edition.
Tibetan (Vajrayna Buddhism) Ancient Literature
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Tibetan literature contains over two millenium of profound and inspiring writing from the words of the Buddha, Tibetan writing is complex, and due to the high altitude,it was difficult for lowland visitors to view or study these texts. In addition, due to the destructive times of war, many of the original Indian texts were destroyed, rendering even more valuable the texts that were preserved in Tibet.
The literature of Tibetan Buddhism consist of two major collections.
- has more than four thousand works
Molloy, Michael (2013). Experiencing World Religions: Tradition, Challenge, and Change. 6th Edition..
The literature of Tibetan Buddhism consist of two major collections.
- The Kanjur
- The Tenjur
- has more than four thousand works
Molloy, Michael (2013). Experiencing World Religions: Tradition, Challenge, and Change. 6th Edition..