The Mission Accomplished - Buddhism

236 Pages·2003·1.18 MB·English

The Mission Accomplished
The Mission Accomplished
Ven. Pategama Gnanarama Ph.D.
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D DHAN
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TThhee MMiissssiioonn AAccccoommpplliisshheedd
A historical analysis of the Mahaparinibbana Sutta of the
Digha Nikaya of the Pali Canon.
by
Ven. Pategama Gnanarama Ph. D.
The Mission Accomplished is undoubtedly an eye opening contribution to Bud-
dhist analytical Pali studies. In this analytical and critical work Ven. Dr. Pate-
gama Gnanarama enlightens us in many areas of subjects hitherto unexplored
by scholars. His views on the beginnings of the Bhikkhuni Order are interesting
and refreshing. They might even be provocative to traditional readers, yet be
challenging to the feminists to adopt a most positive attitude to the problem.
Prof. Chandima Wijebandara
University of Sri Jayawardhanapura
Sri Lanka.
A masterly treatment of a cluster of Buddhist themes in print
Senarat Wijayasundara
Buddhist and Pali College Singapore
Published by
Ti-Sarana Buddhist Association
90, Duku Road. Singapore 429254
Tel: [phone]
First published in Singapore, 1997
Published by Ti-Sarana Buddhist Association
ISBN: 981–00–9087–0
© Pategama Gnanarama 1997
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic
or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage
and retrieval systems or technologies now known or later developed, without per-
mission in writing from the publisher.
Cover: Mahaparinibbana; an ancient stone carving from Gandhara
— Loriyan Tangai. Photograph reproduced by Mr K. C. Wong.
Contents
Introductory 8
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Chapter 1:
The Mahaparinibbana Sutta & its Different Versions 10
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Chapter 2:
The Structure of the Mahaparinibbana Sutta 15
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Chapter 3:
Three Extended Discourses 30
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Chapter 4:
The Date of the Great Decease 36
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Chapter 5:
The Mahaparinibbana Sutta & the First Council 46
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Chapter 6:
The Earliest Record of a Cremation Ceremony 62
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Chapter 7:
The Dispensation & the Position of Women 70
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Chapter 8:
Traces of Docetic Elements 87
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Chapter 9:
The Earliest Phase of the Concept of Authority 104
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Chapter 10:
The Theravada Attitude to Discipline 114
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4
Chapter 11:
Pataliputta & the Buddhist Concept of Gods 135
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Chapter 12:
The Stanzas in the Mahaparinibbana Sutta 153
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Chapter 13:
Philosophical Concepts & The Path of Training 174
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
177
Eight Positions of Mastery (Aññha Abhibhàyatana)
. . . . . . . . .
179
Eight Stages of Deliverance (Aññha Vimokkha)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Chapter 14:
The Buddha in the Mahaparinibbana Sutta 190
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Appendix 1: Who is the Tathagata? 200
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
202
A) A Buddha
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
206
B) A Paccekabuddha and
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
206
C) An Arahant
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
211
D) A Being
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Appendix 2: Omissions & Additions in the Tibetan Recension 214
. . . . . . .
Appendix 3: Subjects discussed in the Mahaparinibbana Sutta 218
. . . . .
Appendix 4: Index of Stanzas 222
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Appendix 5: Bibliography 224
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
224
A. Original Sources
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
229
B. Secondary Sources
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
233
C. Journals
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
233
D. Reference Books
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Appendix 6: Abbreviations 234
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5
TThhee MMiissssiioonn AAccccoommpplliisshheedd
“It is out of faith that you have spoken Ananda! But
Ananda; the Tathagata knows for certain that in this
whole assembly of monks there is not one monk who
has any doubt or uncertainty about the Buddha, or the
Doctrine or the Path, or the Practice. For even the least
one, Ananda, of these five hundred monks has become a
stream Winner, is no longer liable to be born in a state
of woe, certain of Nibbana.”
Mahaparinibbana Sutta; D. ii, 155.
6
To my revered guru Venerable Pàtegama Pa¤¤àràma
Mahà Thera. In grateful remembrance of his impressive
qualities as a Teacher.
“In five ways… do teachers see for the good of their
pupils:
1. Train them well
2. Make them master that which they themselves have
learnt well
3. Instruct them in the lore of every art
4. Speak well of them among their friends and
companions
5. Provide for their safety in every way”
D. 111, 189.
“âcariyà… pa¤cahã ñhànehi antevàsim anukampenti:
1. Suvinãtaü vinenti
2. Suggahãtaü gàhàpenti
3. Sabbe sippasutaü samakkhàyino bhavanti
4. Mittàmaccesu pañiyàdenti
5. Disàsu parittànaü karonti”
D. 111, 189.
7
Introductory
In this work, I have attempted to trace in historical per-
spective the themes found in the Mahaparinibbana Sutta
of the Digha Nikaya of the Pali canon. The Sutta was sub-
jected to critical analysis in regard to its form and contents
paying due attention to deviations and the early teaching
of the Master.
When the ‘Parinirvànayaña Pasu Siyavas Tunak’
authored by me was published some time ago, some of
my friends who evinced an interest in the work persuaded
me to produce an English version of it, for the sake of
English-speaking students of Buddhism, Pali and Buddhist
History. Some of the discussions in the present work are
based entirely on what I have written in Sinhala and some
are quite new. Here the term Sutta as well as Suttanta
have been invariably used to denote a discourse, a canon-
ical dialogue.
As far back as 1912 Winternitz remarked: “It is by
comparing the Pali text minutely with the Sanskrit in which
fragments of a Parinirvana Sutra have come down to us
with the Tibetan and Chinese translations that we can dis-
1
cern which parts of the Sutta are ancient and genuine”.
Nevertheless, by analyzing the text I have shown that
even in the Pali recension itself there are evolutionary
tendencies related to the early phase of Buddhism and
ecclesiastical history.
1. Winternitz M. — History of Indian Literature Vol. ii, p. 41 fn
German original was published in 1912.
8
I am extremely grateful to;
• Mr Ananda Ang Hock Ann, who was initiative in
preparing the book for print.
• Sumedhà who devoted her time for computer type
setting with care and patience.
• Viriyànandà who took every possible attempt to
make the work a pleasant reading.
• Last but not least to Ven. W. Ratanasiri who was a
source of inspiration throughout and the members
of Ti-Sarana Buddhist Association who provided
every possible facility for my religious and educa-
tional activities in Singapore.
Pategama Gnanarama Thera
Ti-Sarana Buddhist Association
90 Duku Road, Singapore 429254
March 1997
9
Chapter 1:
The Mahaparinibbana Sutta &
its Different Versions
T
he Mahaparinibbana Sutta belonging to the
Mahavagga of the Dighanikaya of the Pali canon
is the longest sutta to be found in any of the Pali
canonical works. The sutta begins a few days before the
rainy retreat when Vassakara, the minister, visited the
Buddha in Rajagaha on the initiative of King Ajatasattu
and continues the narrative beyond the three months of
the rainy retreat and records the Passing Away of the
Buddha, the Cremation and the division of relics finally
ending with the erection of eight cetiyas or monuments
enshrining the relics of the Buddha.
Although the theme of the discourse should be the
Great Decease as suggested by the title, however there are
numerous details relating to the doctrine and discipline
which could be categorized under different heads. It is
neither a pure dialogue nor a pure narrative.
There are of course numerous recensions of the
Mahaparinibbana Sutta. Among them the Pali version is
the oldest in respect of language and contents. It runs into
ninety-six pages in the transliterated Pali Text Society
(London) edition of the text. The Mahaparinibbana Sutta is
of utmost historical and cultural value and therefore it has
become a sourcebook for students of Buddhism, Buddha
biography and history of Buddhist thought and literature.
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