At 01:05 PM 30-05-05, Ngawang Dorje wrote:

>> Heck, there are even some suttas that I can't honestly trust. I know that one of them is rather obviously edited: Dakkhinavibhanga Sutta (MN142). <
>
>May I know why you said that the sutta is edited?

I'm sure Piya can give you a very complete answer to that, but for a start, let me point out something rather glaring.

According to the sutta, MahaPajapati Gotami, still a lay follower, wished to offer robe cloth to the Buddha, who then asked her to give it to the Sangha instead. Then, the Buddha supposedly mentioned the BhikkhuniSangha as if it already existed. Since it is exceedingly plain in the Mahavagga of the Vinaya Pitaka that MahaPajapati Gotami was the first bhikkhuni, how can we reconcile this?

For details, see MLDB, p1349, n1291.

To reconcile this, we have to either conclude that either this sutta has been edited or the Mahavagga (or both!). I'm inclined to believe that it is the sutta and would like to hear more about it from Piya. Over to you, Bro. Piya.


peace

Kumâra Bhikkhu

An old error is always more popular than a new truth. (German proverb)