Kind Sir



Yours is a very important question, but one not so easy to answer.



The Buddha seems to have predicted that his teaching would get lost. This
seems to be wise and in accordance with the teaching that all conditioned
things [not ALL THINGS] are impermanent. [Buddhasasana and Tipitaka are
conditioned things, where Dhamma would not be.] Such a prediction may have
been given by other [unenlightened] teachers too.



What is amazing to me, is that the Buddha also gave general and specific
advice to deal with and prevent that situation. That is truly the behaviour
of not only a wise teacher, but a compassionate one.



Examples of general advice are:

-The Kalama sutta - for those who do not yet have faith in the Buddha.

And for those that already have such faith:

-"Make a thorough investigation." M 56 : M i 379

-If someone claims this is the Buddha's teaching, compare it with Sutta and
Vinaya. http://www.thisismyanmar.com/nibbana/tipitaka/mahapri3.htm [see the
first sutta after the index]

-The two companies. A 2.5.6 : A i 72-73
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an02/an02.046.than.html

-The drum pegs. S 20.7 : S ii 266-7
http://www.cambodianbuddhist.org/english/website/canon/sutta/samyutta/sn20-0
07.html, note that "words of disciples" are mentioned, of course the
commentary explains that as "disciples of other teachers" because the
commentator wants people to listen to him! LOL



The specific advice can be found at:

The Paasaadika Discourse D 29 : D iii 127:

"... All you to whom I have taught these truths that I have realised by
super-knowledge should come together and recite them, setting meaning beside
meaning and expression beside expression, without dissension, in order that
this holy life may continue and be established for a long time for the
profit and happiness of the many..." Then the text has the 37 Wings of
Enlightenment, but the Anapanasati sutta has the Buddha compare that
teaching [which is not mentioned in the 37] with the 4 Foundations of
Mindfulness [which is mentioned in the 37]. This seems to show that he
didn't mean to limit the study to those 37. [Note that this is the Buddha's
instruction to hold Sa.mgiiti or Sa.ngaayana. I do not know if monks have
followed this advice when they had their Councils for reviewing the
teaching.]



This specific advice seems to be the key to identify corruptions in the
teaching, which is impermanent and going to slowly decay/be corrupted. By
following this advice one can see how different suttas fill in the
blanks/gaps of other suttas [which are said to have been taught to people at
different stages of development] and how every authentic discourse of the
Buddha is a version of Dependent Origination. Thus the quote: "He who sees
Dependent Origination, sees Dhamma." [Paali MN 28 : PTS M i 191 : Chinese MA
30] Comes to life.



I believe it is only in follow such instructions from the Buddha that one
can know what is Buddhavacana. Those who disagree, of course, can do so, but
without testing that advice they would be doing so from theory [taking their
theory as truth, which would be against the Kalama Sutta teaching].



Kind Regards







<http://www.vicnet.net.au/~dhammadarsa> Integrating Emotion and Intellect =
Intelligence




Dhammadarsa [Darsa] Bhikkhu
Buddhist Monk

Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University
Wang Noi
Ayuthaya
Thailand


<http://www.vicnet.net.au/~dhammadarsa> www.vicnet.net.au/~dhammadarsa


mobile:

+66850941669





<https://www.plaxo.com/add_me?u=210453914412&src=client_sig_212_1_card_join&
invite=1&lang=en> Always have my latest info

<http://www.plaxo.com/signature?src=client_sig_212_1_card_sig&lang=en> Want
a signature like this?





From: Pali@yahoogroups.com [mailto:Pali@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of
thomaslaw03
Sent: Tuesday, 25 January 2011 10:17 AM
To: Pali@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Pali] Buddha-vacana





Dear Pali friends,

What are the contents of Buddha-vacana (the teachings of Buddha) indicated
in the Pali texts?

Recently I read an article, "Problem and Prospects of the Chinese
Samyuktagama: Its Structure and Content" (by Choong Mun-keat). This article
shows that according to the Bahubhumika of the Yogacarabhumi-sastra,
Buddha-vacana should contain these nine topics:

1. Five Aggregates, 2. Sense Spheres, 3. Causal Conditions, 4. Four
Nutriments, 5. Four Truths, 6. Dhatus, 7. Buddha & Sravakas, 8. Four
Stations of Minfulness, etc., of the bodhipaksya-dharmas, and 9. Eight
Assembles.

Although most of these topics are also the major teachings (of the Buddha)
found in the Pali suttas and Abhidhammas, the Pali tradition may not have
the same contents for the term, Buddha-vacana. Are there any explanations or
definitions of Buddha-vacana indicated in the Pali texts?

Thank you for your advice.

Sincerely,

Thomas Law





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]