The Pali Canon and its Role in Buddhism

Question 1

AO3: For who does the Vinaya continue to be a major influence for?

Answer 1

The Theravadin and Vajrayana monastic sanghas - does not have same influence for Mahayana.

Question 2

AO3: Why may the rules of the Vinaya seem unimportant today?

Answer 2

They are for monastic living and most Buddhists today are laity.

Question 3

AO3: Why is it hard for monastic Buddhists today?

Answer 3

It is difficult to survive and not handle money, especially in the West.

Question 4

AO3: What do some Western Buddhist centres have to do now to survive?

Answer 4

Suggest an amount of money as dana in order to deliver teachings.

Question 5

AO3: What regarding the Sutta Pitaka maintains its importance?

Answer 5

It is believed by Therevadins to contain words of the Buddha and his close disciples.

Question 6

AO3: What does the Sutta Pitaka offer advice on which is still useful?

Answer 6

Relationships, marriage, employment, handling money and activities which may lead to addiction.

Question 7

AO3: Who is the Sutta Pitaka usually accessed by?

Answer 7

Monks and nuns and not directly the laity, limiting its importance for them.

Question 8

AO3: What texts does the Sutta Pitaka contain that are commonly known?

Answer 8

The Dhammapada and the Jatakas.

Question 9

AO3: What about the Abhidhamma Pitaka limits its significance?

Answer 9

Its abstract and complex teachings - only relevant to monks, nuns and scholars.

Question 10

AO3: What has superseded the teachings of the Abhidhamma Pitaka for Mahayana schools?

Answer 10

Later texts such as the Lotus Sutra for Nichiren Buddhists.

Question 11

AO3: What prevents many Buddhists in the world from reading these texts?

Answer 11

They are unable to read.

Question 12

AO3: What does Batchelor argue about the authenticity of the Pali Canon?

Answer 12

‘No doubt certain details were forgotten, omitted or muddled up’.

Question 13

AO3: What is the likelihood of the Buddha speaking Pali?

Answer 13

Unlikely - the Pali words are not likely to be the words of the Buddha.

Question 14

AO3: What are some parts of the Pali Canon used for?

Answer 14

The Metta Sutta on Universal love.
- Some parts recited for protection.

Question 15

AO3: What are the main aims for those in a monastic setting?

Answer 15

1/ Rid material attachment
2/ Prevent three poisons
3/ Remove ego and dukkha
4/ Focus on arahatship

Question 16

AO3: Why may the Vinaya may not be important for all Buddhists?

Answer 16

The specialised focus may not be necessary in this life.

Question 17

AO3: When are the Vinaya rules applicable to lay Buddhists?

Answer 17

In Monastic Sangha retreats but they lapse once they leave.

Question 18

AO3: How may the significance of the Vinaya for the monastics impact the laity?

Answer 18

They act as good role models for the lay community.

Question 19

AO3: What does the Vinaya allow the monastics to do?

Answer 19

Focus on the Dharma, developing prajna and dedication to the Middle Way.

Question 20

AO3: How may the rules of the Vinaya Pitaka be seen as inherently patriarchal?

Answer 20

• Buddha’s step-mother was ordained - Mahaprajapati.
• Quorum of ordained nuns needed to ordain another died out.
  -Nuns no longer ordained.

Question 21

AO3: How may some argue that the Vinaya Pitaka is not patriarchal?

Answer 21

It does not reflect Buddhism and the inability to be free from the fetters of the world.

Question 22

AO3: What does Rita Gross excuse some of the misogyny within the Pali Canon with?

Answer 22

‘Outburst of an individual frustrated monk’.

Question 23

AO3: Why could the Pali Canon be even more significant today/

Answer 23

To iron out any misapplications so both male and female can reach enlightenment.

Question 24

AO3: What has the Vinaya rules enabled for Buddhism today?

Answer 24

The following of the rules has allowed Buddhism to survive into the 21st century.

Question 25

AO3: What do Bhikkhunis follow which suggests inequality?

Answer 25

Additional rules focused on avoidance of sexual tension.

Question 26

AO3: What can be said to be radical about Buddhism?

Answer 26

To have ordained women at the time of the Buddha.

Question 27

What is the Pali canon?

Answer 27

Largest collection of Buddhist scriptures in the ancient Indian language of Pali with the first written version 1st century BCE.

Question 28

What is the Tipitika?

Answer 28

Tipitaka (‘three baskets’) refers to the storage of the texts: the three ‘baskets’ (pitaka), are the Vinaya Pitaka, the Sutta Pitaka and the Abhidhamma Pitaka.

Question 29

What does the basket of discipline contain?

Answer 29

The, (‘basket of discipline’), contains within it the Patimokka, the rules and regulations governing the monastic sangha.

Question 30

How many rules are there in the Patimokkha?

Answer 30

There are 227 rules for bhikkhus and 311 for bhikkhunis these are thought to have been introduced by the Buddha and developed during his lifetime.

Question 31

What is in the Vinaya?

Answer 31

In the Vinaya, there are detailed rules and regulations and guidance on how to settle disputes in the monastic sangha. The breaking of which leads to expulsion from the monastic sangha.

Question 32

Who does the Vinaya have control over?

Answer 32

Within the Theravada monastic sangha, the Vinaya and its three parts (the Suttavib hanga, the Khandhaka and the Parivara) have normative authority over the individual and their interaction with others.

Question 33

What does the Sutta Pitaka contain?

Answer 33

The Sutta Pitaka contains teachings such as the Four Noble Truths which are Buddha vacana (‘word of the Buddha’) and the Dhammapada and Jataka Tales which are accessible and applicable to the fourfold Sangha.

Question 34

What do the Suttas show?

Answer 34

The suttas show the Buddha’s various teaching strategies adapted to his audience – this shows him using upaya (‘skilful means’).

Question 35

What is the Dhammapada?

Answer 35

The Dhammapada presents a summary of the Buddha’s wisdom and is very popular,

Question 36

What are the Jatakas?

Answer 36

Jatakas are stories in which the Buddha appears as both human and animal in illustrating key Buddhist beliefs and ethical teaching.

Question 37

What is the abhidhamma Pitaka?

Answer 37

The Abhidhamma Pitaka contains philosophical teachings which are complex and regarded as advanced teaching mainly for those in the monastic sangha.

Question 38

What does the Abhindhamma Pitaka provide?

Answer 38

The seven sections of the Abhidhamma Pitaka present a detailed account of Buddhist doctrine particularly of samsara and of the mind.

Question 39

Why has the Pali Canon become more important?

Answer 39

The Pali Canon is easily accessible via the internet and other media and has therefore become more important in Buddhism particularly in the West

Question 40

What is Sangiti?

Answer 40

Sangiti (‘rehearsal’) refers to the meeting of Buddhists and recitation of the dhamma as found in the Pali Canon – this continues in the monastic sangha today and shows the role of the Pali Canon particularly in Theravada.

Question 41

What is important about the Pali Canon?

Answer 41

All Buddhists would accept the importance of the Pali Canon in that it presents in detail the fundamentals of what the Buddha taught.