Theravada Buddhist studies in Japan
by Keiko Soda | 1993 | 31,102 words
This essay studies the acceptance of Buddhism in Japanese culture and nature, in light of the concept of 鈥淚mpermanence鈥�. The history of Japanese Buddhism traces its origins from its introduction through Korea, evolving significantly over various periods. Initially propagated by Prince Shotoku during the Nara Period, it saw the emergence of sects li...
1. Introduction to Buddhism
CHAPTER II 'EARLY BUDDHISM THERAVADA BUDDHISM HINAYANA BUDDHISM II. 1. INTRODUCTION A CRITICAL STUDY By the term Theravada we mean the original Buddhism (which is now-a-days known as the Southern Buddhism) which is followed in Sri Lanka, Myanmar (= Burma), Thailand, Bangladesh, Laos, Cambodia and partly in the Indian sub-continent. It has got two distinct phases, the first phase being represented by the Sakyamuni Buddha's original teachings maintained by his Arhant disciples through oral traditions, while the second phase is represented by the present-day Pali Tipitaka. There is still a third phase which is represented by the non-canonical Pali texts like the Milindapanha, Visuddhimagga etc. and the commentaries (Atthakathas), sub-commentaries (= tikas, anutikas) of the Tipitaka-texts. As the Theravadins follow only the Pali traditions, the Theravada Buddhism is otherwise known as Pali Buddhism. But so far as the Early Buddhism is concerned it denotes a wider connotation than the Theravada it distinctly represents three early schools of Buddhism, viz. Theravada, Mahasanghika and Sarvastivada. All the Pali texts (canonical and non-canonical), Sanskrit Agamas, Vinaya and Abhidharma texts in Sanskrit and their Chinese and Tibetan translations come under the purview of Early Buddhism. i
-: 47 : The term. Hinayana, as it is popularly known in This name, though the world, represents Early Buddhism. not liked by its adherents, is given by the Mahayanists in order to show their superiority to the former. The Hinayana Buddhism too has got two phases, viz. early or pure phase represented by the considerable portions of the Pali Vinaya and the First Four Nikayas, while the second or Mixed phase is represented by the rest of the texts mentioned above. Of course, the Hinayanists of today regard the Pali Tipitaka only to be the original Buddhavacana. In this chapter an attempt has been made to give a critical analysis of the origin, doctrinal importance, historical background of Early Buddhism with special reference to Theravada and Hinayana.