1. Sacred Texts in Buddhism
By Kristen Brady, Beth Conlon, Stephanie Lighter, Kevin Nguyen, and Molly Shawhan

2. Life of Buddha
Beth

3. Birth Born in 563 B.C.E. in Lumbini Kept indulged until…
Suddhodana, Maya
At 29, he sees four sights
Old man
Disease
Death
Ascetic

4. Enlightenment Becomes an ascetic to save world from suffering
After 6 years does not have answer
Under bodhi tree, has insight of Middle way: moderation and meditation
Becomes enlightened, reaches nirvana

5. Later Life
Deer Park Sermon: Buddha professed the Middle Way and the Four Noble Truths to his original followers
Dies at 80 at Kusinara reaching parinirvana

6. Composition of Tripitaka
Beth

7. Tripitaka Language: Pali
Definition: the “three baskets” collection of scriptures that consist of monastic rules, discourses, and supplements to doctrines

8. Vinaya- Pitaka “Basket of Discipline”
Monastic rules- “texts on personal and social morality, precepts of monastic orders, and regulations of governing the entire Buddhist community” (Thompson 33)
227 rules for monks

9. Sutta- Pitaka “Basket of Sutras” (Discourses
Teachings of Buddha in discourses and dialogue
Jatakas: stories of the 550 previous lives of Buddha, specifically used in the study of the Theravadin monks
Dhammapada: The Way of Righteousness
Sayings of Buddha that provide wisdom for all Buddhists

10. Abhidhamma- Pitaka “Basket of Further Teachings”
Attempts to systemize the teachings of the sutras
Commentaries and analyses of Sutras
Underlying doctrinal principles reworks and reorganized

11. Collation Pali Canon: Theravada
Molly

12. Buddha and Oral Tradition
Life and times of Buddha
Preferred vernacular tongues (pali)
Passed Down
Buddha
Five Arhats
Monastic Order
Memorize and Chant

13. First Buddhist Council
480 BCE, Rajagaha
500 Arhats
Reviewed dharma
Mahakasyapa: leader
Upali: rules
Ananda: sermons

14. Third Buddhist Council
250 BCE
Clarify doctrine
Stop heresies
Shariputra: supplement to doctrines

15. Fourth Buddhist Councils
First century BCE
Tipitaka written on palm leaves
Buddhaghosa
Fifth century BCE
Translated into pali
Collected into coherent texts

16. Collation Pali Canon: Mahayana
Kevin

17. View of Pali Canon Recited by Arhats Authoritative
Or attributed to the Boddhisatvas
Where it is believed that all are the words of Buddha
Follow Doctrine of Tripitaka
Monks follow rules in Tripitaka
Follow other Sutras

18. Mahayanan Sutras
Authentic account of teachings given during Buddha’s lifetime
Written down at the time of Buddha
Further expanded after Buddhism transmitted to China
Examples:
Lotus
Nirvana

19. Lotus Sutra Teaching of Mahayana Canon attributed to Shakyamuni Buddha
Developed out of a monastic, meditational tradition
as oral teachings
Extensive instruction on the concept of the perfection of the Boddhisatva
Buddha  eternal entity who achieved nirvana
Chose to remain in samsara to help teach beings the Dharma time and time again

20. Nirvana Sutra Buddha never truly dies or becomes destroyed
Only physical form passes away
Not the ultimate Buddha lying behind it
Striking for its teachings on pure self of the Buddha in interiority of Nirvana
Central focus on Buddha-dhatu
Buddha element present in every individual
Full seeing of this leads end to suffering

21. Development
Stephanie

22. Background Info.
During the Buddha's lifetime and for some centuries afterwards nothing was written down
Was not customary to use it for study and teaching
To preserve a large amount of texts meant simply the proper organization of the available information

23. Pali Canon (Theravada)
Pali literature was preserved in Sri Lanka
Council held under Mahinda: various parts of the Pali Canon were preserved as oral traditions
In later times the most notable writer in Pali was Buddhaghosa, who flourished in the 5th century
Teachings were eventually committed to writing, on palm, leaves
Most of the Pali Canon originated from the Buddha and his immediate disciples

24. Pali Canon cont.
Pali Text Society, founded in London in 1882, has published several hundred volumes of texts as well as English translations of Pali literature
Tradition holds that only a few later additions were made
Knowledge of scripture is an important pursuit in Theravada; It develops wisdom

25. Mount Shasta (Mahayana)
Central Location for Buddhists in America; Model for temples
It can be a learning and training center as well as a retreat center
Established in 1970, the Buddhists come to study the Buddhist Precepts and the Dharma while maintaining mindfulness

26. Reverend Master Eko Little
In their True Nature, all things are pure. When a trainee realizes this for himself, the fear of life and death is lost. They are recognized as an aspect of change, the coming into being of an "individual" life. Real Life, the life of Buddha, does not die, nor is it born. ... true spiritual life goes beyond our normal perception of life and death.

27. Mount Shasta

28. Agamas (Mahayana) Agama is a collection of Early Buddhist scriptures
Agamas are preserved in their entirety in Chinese translation, although portions survive in Sanskrit and Tibetan translation
Already collected by the time of the first council (held shortly after Buddha’s death)
Continually growing in number and size; Undergoing various changes

29. Tantras (Vajrayana)
Refers to numerous and varied practices that would transform pleasures into realization of enlightenment
Earliest tantra grew out of the Hindu tradition.
Vajrayana Buddhists say tantric practices were expounded by the historical Buddha

30. Languages
Molly

31. Pali “Tipitaka” Theravada Buddhism Preferred by Buddha

32. Sanskrit “Tripitaka” Mahayana Buddhism

33. Works Cited
"Tipitaka (scripture)." Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia <
Bullitt, John T. “The Paracanonical Pali Texts.” Provenance <
"The Mahayana Tradition." DharmaNet. Web. 19 Oct <
"The Lotus Sutra." Geocities. Web. 19 Oct <
"Nirvana Sutra." NirvanaSutra. Web. 19 Oct <"The Lotus Sutra." geocities. Web. 19 Oct >.
"Buddhism After Buddha." Important. Web. 19 Oct <

34. Works Cited
“English Translation of Dhammapada”. 17 March <
Matthews, Warren. World Religions. 5th ed. Belmont, CA: Thompson Wadsworth, 2007.
Thompson, John M. Introduction to the World’s Major Religions: Buddhism (Volume 3). Ed. Lee W. Bailey. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 2006.
Wangu, Madhu Bazaz. World Religions: Buddhism. 4th ed. New York: Chelsea House, 2009.
“The First Rehersal of the Tipitaka.” BuddhaNet <
“Shasta Abbey Buddhist Monastery.” <