Dighnikayo Part 1

SR No.: 009976
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Vipassana Research Institute Igatpuri
Publisher: Vipassana Research Institute Igatpuri
Publication Year: 1998
Total Pages: 358
Language: Sanskrit
Classification: Interfaith, Buddhism, R000, & R005
File Size: 13 MB

Page 58

Foreword
The Buddha clearly stated two essentials needed to keep the pure Dhamma long-lived. First, the Dhamma-vacana (words of the Buddha) should be preserved in their original form in a well-organised manner. This helps ensure that the meanings remain intact. Second, his devoted followers should assemble in concord and collectively recite the Dhamma, which the Enlightened One had taught through self-realisation.
Soon after the mahāparinibbāna of the Buddha, five hundred of his chief disciples assembled under the aegis of Mahāthera Mahā Kassapa. Together they took the first step of fulfilling these two requirements. They organised the first collective recitation for collating the entire teachings of the Lord in a systematic manner. The entire body of his teaching was divided into three Pitakas (lit. baskets): the Vinaya Pitaka (the monastic discipline), Sutta Pițaka (the popular discourses), and Abhidhamma Pitaka (a compendium of profound teachings elucidating the functioning and interrelationships of mind, mental factors, matter and the phenomenon transcending all of these).
The tradition of memorizing the words of the Buddha had already begun in his own lifetime. We note that some of the monks were known as Vinayadhara, Suttadhara and Mātikādhara (lit. a holder of the Vinaya, Sutta, etc.). Due to various inconveniences, the people of that time did not record important teachings in written form; the tradition was to memorize the Dhamma lore. The monks who memorized it were the custodians of the words of the Master. The Vinaya was memorized by the Vinayadharas, the Suttas by the Suttadharas and the Mātikās by the Mātikādharas. Ven. Ananda was the one who had complete recall of the lore in its entirety. It seems that after the First Dhamma Council, the Mātikādharas began to be called Abhidhammadharas, and those who had full recall of the three Pițakas, such as Ananda, came to be known as Tipitakadharas.