Re: Buddhaghosa's citations in Visuddhimagga

Dear Khristos,

the porana quotations in the Vism are found often with the same 
source references in the Samantapasadika and elsewhere. Which of 
these commentaries had been written first, and wether the younger 
commentaries simply took these passages from the commentaries written 
earlier  in the 5th century or whether they quoted independently from 
the original old commentaries (SIHALATTHAKATHA) has to be checked for 
each quotation. The Samantapaasaadikaa at different places has long 
passages in common with the Vism (Sp 157,10-158,15 = Vism 
376,29-378,2; 158,16ff. = Vism 410,25ff.).

In order that you might see, what I meant, here some parallels for 
the first two to three tenaahu poraa.naa.quotations in the Vism:

Vism 151,22-152,15 (tenaahu poraa.naa) corresponds to Patis-a I 
231,17-232,2 (the whole passage is characterized as a quotation by ti 
vuttattaa, thus the tenaahu poraa.naa also is taken over, and no 
first-hand quotation)
Vism 206, 23-24 (tenaahu poraa.naa) similar to AN-a II 35,2-3 (only 
the first verse, and no source is given).
Vism 206,23-27 = Dhs-a 298 = Nidd II 42(both with tenaahu poraa.naa)
Vism 206,25-212,15 = Sp 119,22-125,9 (first tennahu poraa.naa 
quotation not marked, but second, Sp 122,17)

etc.

Each verse of such quotations has to be checked, since it maybe that 
only one of  them is quoted in other contexts. Furthermore one has to 
check the whole context in order to see which text copied which.

Regarding the statement that the so-called Sihalatthakatha was 
destroyed after the commentaries of the 5th century were written, 
this certainely is not correct. For at least two of the early 
commentaries, i.e. the Andhaka-Atthakatha and the Maha-Atthakatha we 
have quotations in at least some texts (ca. from the 9th century 
onwards) which are not preserved in any older text handed down to us. 
Thus at least in some regions at least some of the early commentaries 
were preserved and handed down even after the 5th/6th centuries.

Regarding the identity of the poraa.naa all statements are mere 
speculations as long as the quotations itself are not investigated.

I hope, this is of some help,
Best, Petra

****************************************

Dr. Petra Kieffer-Pülz
Wilhelm-Külz-Strasse 2
99423 Weimar
Tel. 03643/ 770 447
kiepue@... (priv.)
petra.kieffer-puelz@...
www.pali.adwmainz.de






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