Bhante & Dharma friends,

Attached is a PDF for the Sutta Discovery file on the "first nun" discussion. Do give me your brickbats.

I'm trying to balance between sharing my portion of "wrong views" in this exciting discussion and working for my own awakening through a meditative study of the early suttas (or at least laying the groundwork so that I can continue working on them in the next life). That is I am unable to complete the annotated translation of the four Nikayas.

Combining meditation with sutta study and keeping in touch with Dharma-centred monks is a great way to live Buddhism.

So let us do what true Buddhists do: let's argue mindfully with compassion

May I learn more from all this that I may be wise through seeing my foolishness.

Piya
�

Kumaara Bhikkhu wrote:

> 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
>
> Kum�ra Bhikkhu
>
> ������� An old error is always more popular than a new truth. (German proverb)
>
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