Dhammapada

SR No.: 007674
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Max Muller
Publisher: Oxford
Publication Year: 1881
Total Pages: 2540
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 45 MB

Page 32

INTRODUCTION.
xxix
12. Patisambhidamagga, the road of discrimination, and
intuitive insight. 13. Apadâna 1, legends. 14. Buddhavamsa ', story of twenty-four preceding Bud
dhas and of Gotama. 15. Kariyâpitaka', basket of conduct, Buddha's meri
torious actions
III. Abhidhamma-pitaka. 1. Dhammasangani, numeration of conditions of life 3. 2. Vibhanga, disquisitions (18). 3. Kathâvatthupakarana, book of subjects for discussion
(1000 suttas). 4. Puggalapaññatti or pannatti, declaration on puggala,
or personality. 5. Dhâtukathâ, account of dhâtus or elements. 6. Yamaka, pairs (ten divisions). 7. Patthânapakarana, book of causes.
Taking this collection as a whole we may lay it down as self-evident that the canon, in its collected form, cannot be older than any of the events related therein.
There are two important facts for determining the age of the Pâli canon, which, as Dr. Oldenberg 4 has been the first to show, should take precedence of all other arguments, viz.
1. That in the Tipitaka, as we now have it, no mention is made of the so-called Third Council, which took place at Pâtaliputta, under King Asoka, about 242 B.C.
2. That in the Tipitaka, as we now have it, the First Council of Râgagaha (477 B.C.) and the Second Council of Vesâlî (377 B.C.) are both mentioned.
From these two facts it may safely be concluded that the Buddhist canon, as handed down to us, was finally closed
Buddhaghosa does not say whether these were recited at the First Council.
Partly translated by Gogerly, Journal of the Asiatic Society of Ceylon, 1852. . Cf. Gogerly, Journal of the Asiatic Society of Ceylon, 1848, p. 7.
* See Oldenberg's Vinaya-pitaka, Introduction, p. xxv. The kings Agâtasatru (485-453 B. c.), Udâyin (453-437 B. C.), and Munda (437-429 B. c.) are all mentioned in the Tipitaka. See Oldenberg, Zeitschrift der D. M. G., XXXIV, PP. 753, 753.
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