Difference between revisions of "Buddhavacana"
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[[File:Guojun.jpg|thumb|250px|]] | [[File:Guojun.jpg|thumb|250px|]] | ||
| − | [[Buddhavacana]], from [[Pali]] and [[Sanskrit]], means "the [[Word of The Buddha]]." It refers to the works accepted within a [[tradition]] as being the teachings of The [[Buddha]]. All [[traditions]] [[recognize]] certain texts as [[buddhavacana]] which make no claim to being the actual words of the [[historical Buddha]], such as the [[Theragāthā]] and [[Vimalakīrti | + | [[Buddhavacana]], from [[Pali]] and [[Sanskrit]], means "the [[Word of The Buddha]]." It refers to the works accepted within a [[tradition]] as being the teachings of The [[Buddha]]. All [[traditions]] [[recognize]] certain texts as [[buddhavacana]] which make no claim to being the actual words of the [[historical Buddha]], such as the [[Theragāthā]] and [[Vimalakīrti Nirdeśa Sūtra]]. |
In early [[Buddhism]] | In early [[Buddhism]] | ||
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In [[Theravada]] [[Buddhism]] | In [[Theravada]] [[Buddhism]] | ||
[[File:Janismartin.jpg|thumb|250px|]] | [[File:Janismartin.jpg|thumb|250px|]] | ||
| − | In [[Theravada]] [[Buddhism]], the standard collection of [[buddhavacana]] is the [[Pali | + | In [[Theravada]] [[Buddhism]], the standard collection of [[buddhavacana]] is the [[Pali Canon]]. The [[oral tradition]] of the [[Theravadin]] recension of [[Buddhist texts]] dates back to the [[time]] of The [[Buddha]] and was arranged in its current [[form]] 80 BC. |
In {{Wiki|East Asian}} [[Buddhism]] | In {{Wiki|East Asian}} [[Buddhism]] | ||
| − | In {{Wiki|East Asian}} [[Buddhism]], what is considered [[buddhavacana]] is collected in [[The Chinese Buddhist Canon]]. The most common edition of this is the [[Taishō | + | In {{Wiki|East Asian}} [[Buddhism]], what is considered [[buddhavacana]] is collected in [[The Chinese Buddhist Canon]]. The most common edition of this is the [[Taishō Tripiṭaka]]. |
According to [[Venerable]] [[Hsuan Hua]] from the [[tradition]] of [[Chinese Buddhism]], there are five types of [[beings]] who may speak the [[sutras]] of [[Buddhism]]: a [[Buddha]], a [[disciple]] of a [[Buddha]], a [[Deva]], a [[ṛṣi]], or an [[emanation]] of one of these [[beings]]; however, they must first receive certification from a [[Buddha]] that its contents are true [[Dharma]]. Then these [[sutras]] may be properly regarded as [[buddhavacana]]. | According to [[Venerable]] [[Hsuan Hua]] from the [[tradition]] of [[Chinese Buddhism]], there are five types of [[beings]] who may speak the [[sutras]] of [[Buddhism]]: a [[Buddha]], a [[disciple]] of a [[Buddha]], a [[Deva]], a [[ṛṣi]], or an [[emanation]] of one of these [[beings]]; however, they must first receive certification from a [[Buddha]] that its contents are true [[Dharma]]. Then these [[sutras]] may be properly regarded as [[buddhavacana]]. | ||
Revision as of 03:46, 19 January 2014
Buddhavacana, from Pali and Sanskrit, means "the Word of The Buddha." It refers to the works accepted within a tradition as being the teachings of The Buddha. All traditions recognize certain texts as buddhavacana which make no claim to being the actual words of the historical Buddha, such as the Theragāthā and Vimalakīrti Nirdeśa Sūtra.
In early Buddhism
According to Donald Lopez, criteria for determining what should be considered buddhavacana was developed at an early stage, and that the early formulations do not suggest that the Dharma is limited to what was spoken by the historical Buddha. The Mahāsāṃghika and the Mūlasarvāstivāda considered both The Buddha's discourses, as well those of The Buddha's disciples, to be buddhavacana.
A number of different beings such as Buddhas, disciples of The Buddha, ṛṣis, and devas were considered capable to transmitting buddhavacana. The content of such a discourse was then to be collated with the sūtras, compared with the Vinaya, and evaluated against the nature of the Dharma These texts may then be certified as true buddhavacana by a Buddha, a Saṃgha, a small group of elders, or one knowledgeable elder. In Theravada Buddhism
In Theravada Buddhism, the standard collection of buddhavacana is the Pali Canon. The oral tradition of the Theravadin recension of Buddhist texts dates back to the time of The Buddha and was arranged in its current form 80 BC. In East Asian Buddhism
In East Asian Buddhism, what is considered buddhavacana is collected in The Chinese Buddhist Canon. The most common edition of this is the Taishō Tripiṭaka.
According to Venerable Hsuan Hua from the tradition of Chinese Buddhism, there are five types of beings who may speak the sutras of Buddhism: a Buddha, a disciple of a Buddha, a Deva, a ṛṣi, or an emanation of one of these beings; however, they must first receive certification from a Buddha that its contents are true Dharma. Then these sutras may be properly regarded as buddhavacana. In Tibetan Buddhism
In Tibetan Buddhism, what is considered buddhavacana is collected in the Kangyur. The East Asian and Tibetan Buddhist canons always combined Buddhavacana with other literature in their standard collected editions. However, the general view of what is and is not buddhavacana is broadly similar between East Asian Buddhism and Tibetan Buddhism.
