Encyclopedia of Indian Philosophies, Vol. 7: Abhidharma Buddhism to 150 AD

651 Pages·2011·12.36 MB·English

by  Karl H. Potter

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF INDIAN PHILOSOPHIES
General Editor: Karl H. Potter
The following volumes are published:
I. Bibliography, Sections I and n, 3rd ed. {199 5)
II. Indian Metaphysics and Epistemology: The Tradition of
Nyaya-Vaisesika up to Gangesa (1977)
HI. Advaita Vedanta up to Samkara and His Pupils (1981)
IV. Sarnkhya: A Dualist Tradition in Indian Philosophy (1987)
V. The Philosophy of the Grammarians (1990)
VI. Indian Philosophical Analysis Nyaya-Vaisesika from
Gangesa to Raghunatha Siromani (1993)
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF
INDIAN PHILOSOPHIES
VOLUME vn
Abhidharma Buddhism
tol50A.D.
EDITED BY
KARL H. POTTER
WITH ROBERT E. BUSWELL, JR
PADMANABH S. JAINI
AND NOBLE ROSS REAT
MOTILAL BANARSIDASS PUBLISHERS
PRIVATE LIMITED • DELHI
First Edition: Delhi, 1996
© MOTILAL BANARSIDASS PUBLISHERS PRIVATE LIMITED
All Rights Reserved
ISBN: 81-208-0895-9 (Vol. VII)
ISBN: 81-208-0307-8 (Set)
Also available at:
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Contributors:
George D. Bond
Georage G. Burford
Robert E. Buswell, Jr.
Collett Cox
Edwin Gerow
Fred Greiner
Shohei Ichimura
Padmanabh S. Jaini
Kosho Kawamura
Robert Kritzer
Karen C. Lang
Christian Lindtner
James P. McDermott
Karl H. Potter
Noble Ross Reat
Charles Willemen
Shingo Yoshimoto

CONTENTS
PREFACE ix
PART ONE:
INTRODUCTION
1. The Historical Buddha and His Teachings (Noble 3
Ross Reat)
2. The Buddhist Way to Liberation (Karl H. Potter) 59
3. The Development of Abhidharma Philosophy 7 3
(Ropbert E. Buswell, Jr. and Padmanabh S. Jaini)
4. A Few Early Abhidharma Categories
(Karl H. Potter) 121
PART TWO:
SUMMARIES OF WORKS
1. Dhammasangani (K. H. Potter) 137
2. Vibhanga (K.H. Potter) 165
3. Dharmaskandha (Fred Greiner) 179
4. Puggalapanfiati (K. H. Potter) 189
5. Sangltiparyaya (Christian Lindtner) 203
6. Prajnaptibhasya 217
7. Patisambhidamagga (James P. McDermott) 219
8. Kathavatthu (James P. McDermott) 265
9. Mahaniddesa (Grace G. Burford) 305
10. Culaniddesa (Grace G. Burford) 313
11. Sariputrabhidharmasastra (Shinyo Yoshimoto) 317
12. Yamaka (Karen C. Lang) 327
13. PatthSna (K. H. Potter) 337
14. Dhatukaya (Robert E. Buswell, Jr.) 345
15. Dhatukatha (K.H. Potter) 359
16. Vijftanakaya 367
17. Prakaranapada (Christian Lindtner) 375
viii CONTENTS
18. Petakopadesa (George D. Bond) 381
19. Nettippakarana (George D. Bond) 403
20. Jnanaprasthana (Edwin Gerow and Karl H. Potter) 417
21. (Bhadnta) Dharmasrl, Abhidharmahrdaya or
Abhidharmsara (Charles Willemen) 451
22. Milindapafiho (K.H. Potter) 471
23. Ghoska, Abhidharmamrta (Robert Kritzer) 489
24. Mahavibhasa (Shohei Ichimura with Kosho
Kawamura, Robert E. Buswell, Jr. and
CollettCox) 511
NOTES 569
GLOSSARY-INDEX 595
PREFACE
With the present volume of the Encyclopedia we begin taking up
the philosophy of Buddhism in South Asia. When this project was
first planned, many years ago now, it was thought that Buddhist
philosophy would be handled expeditiously in one volume on Abhi-
dharma Buddhism and three more on Mahayana. After further
reflection, however, it became apparent that though this division may
represent what Buddhism has come to be seen as in modern times,
it may well impose latter-day distinctions on a tradition which has
a lot more in common throughout than such a division would well
represent. As a result it has been decided to treat Buddhist philosophy
all together chronologically, beginning with the Buddha and ending
when Buddhist thought leaves India around the 14th century A.D.
Thus Abhidharma and Mahayana writers will be treated side by side,
and some may find distinctions among schools of Buddhism dealt
with insufficiently for their liking. We can only say that it seems wisest
not to impose more divisions into Buddhism than are historically
apparent, and that although future scholarship may clarify the lines
of distrinction among'Buddhist schools and sect that is still a subject
on which opinions differ, often heatedly.
Let me remind our readers that the scope of these volumes is
limited to summaries of text that are of philosophical interest
throughout, theoretical rather than practical in their intended
function, and polemical or at least expository in a context where
defence of one.view among alternatives is appropriate. In the present
volume these criteria have been interpreted broadly and loosely.
Nevertheless, as in the volumes dealing with Vedanta, for example,
where we summarize commentaries on the Upanisads but not those
Upanisads themselves, in the present volume and the subsequent
ones to appear dealing with Buddhism the original sutras, the earnest
literature regularly ascribed to the Buddha or his immediate disciples,
is not summarized, following the same lines of distinction.
The present volume confines itself to Abhidharma philosophical
texts. It may well be that certain of the Prajnaparamita sutras had
their origin at a time within the period covered here. However, since
dating is quite unclear in such cases we have decided to take up
those sutras in the next volume on Buddhism, where we shall discuss
in greater detail the question of the dates and affiliation of the earliest
Mahayana Buddhist materials.
The preparation of this volume was made possible in part by a
grant from the Division of Research Programs of the National
Endowment for the Humanities, an independent Federal agency. We
acknowledge with gratitude the generous support of the Endowment
X PREFACE
for this and subsequent volumes dealing with Buddhism, as well as
for making possible acquisition of some of the summaries appearing
in other volumes of our Encyclopedia. Thanks are also due to
Smithsonian Institution for assistance relating to travel and mainte-
nance for the General Editor while collecting some of the materials
included herein, and to the American Institute for Indian Studies for
their assistance in like ways. Finally, the editorial team would like
to express particular thanks to Collett Cox, who read the finished
manuscript and made helpful suggestions, and to Laura Townsend,
our faithful typist.
June .1989 KARL H. POTTER
PART ONE
INTRODUCTION