ME35

Theravada Tradition: A Historical and Doctrinal Study

ME35  17-03-2011     (4:00 to 5:00)

(Class Notes Only)

------------------

“Necessity of Aṭṭhakathās for the interpretation of Tipiṭaka.” 

E .g – (i) Theragāthā and Therigāthā - The dialogues have been identified separately only in the commentary, (ii)Jātakapāli - Short incidents recorded here are expanded as full stories only in the commentary, (iii) Niddesapāli is a commentary on Suttanipata, and (iv) Kathāvatthuppakaraṇa- The points of controversy have been identified separately only in the commentary.

As we know, out of 84,000 texts in the Theravada Tripiṭaka, two thousand texts are presented as the Buddha’s teachings by his disciples we have to examine again and again which parts belong to the Buddha’s own teachings and which parts belong to the commentaries---. Buy the way, the first reference to this term Pāli is found in the Pāli commentaries which are translated from Sihala Aṭṭhakathā. So the earliest time of using the term Pāli can go back to the third century B.C., even Abhidhamma was regarded as Pāli during time of Buddhaghosa, fifth century A.D., The Pāli commentaries were translated by Buddhaghosa by the fifth century A.D. If you compare Pāli Sutta-piṭaka with the Pāli commentaries.

Explore the ancient language of the Tipiṭaka and Theravada in commentaries, can anyone help explaining way these words are found at the beginning of some suttas and note others? that those suttas were remembered by Ven- Ᾱnandā at the first Buddhist Council. It was sort of ‘thing’. Evam me sutam (Thus, have I heard). These words are invariably followed by Ekam samayam = at one time or on one occasion. Ven- Ᾱnanda’s thing for remembering the
teachings, keeping the tradition oral until the Tipiṭaka was written down. I found this partied:

Some pertinent parts: almost all suttas in the Pāli Canon open with the words Evam.
Evam the 8th condition may imply,
     1. Evam = Upamā
     2. = Upadesa
     3. = Sampahamsaṇa (happiness)
     4. = Garahana (blane someone)
     5. = Vacanasanpatigga (yes, expect)
     6. = Ᾱkara (actually)
     7. = Vidassana (example)
     8. = Avadhārana
These eight meanings are different contact. Evam is similes, like that …..
     1. Evam jātena waccena kattabbam kūsalam bahum.
     2. Evam te abhikamitabbam. Evam patikkamitabbam.
     3. Evam etam sūgata (thus, this, the happy one)
     4. Evam paññayam vasali
     5. Evam bhante (Yes, Venerable Sir,)
     6. Evam bhante
     7. Evam bhante
     8. Evam etam darayāmi,
These words mean -
-“I have understood this way” Ᾱnanda said
- It is except, That is, Buddha taught (It is certainly not impossible)
-“Evam me sutam” means thus have I heard
- Sure, expertly, I have heard
- That is teaching
- I have in mind
- I thought so
In fact these words “Thus have I heard” are so well known as an introduction to Pāli suttas. (This was said by the Exalted One, said by the Arahant so have I heard, this formula is followed by the direct words of the Buddha with no mention of “on one occasion”.) The words are there to indicate that the sutta was recited initially at the first council by Ᾱnanda. If it doesn’t say Evam me sutam it wasn’t credited to Ᾱnanda rather someone else, who may be un-named, or named as in the case of Venerable Upāli who uses “ ‘Tena samyena’, it is certainly not impossible.”

So, the word is 8th condition to become the Buddha’s attendant, by which he has heard all the suttas uttered by the Buddha for the remaining time of his life. If you give a brief outline of which texts have “Evam me sutam” at the start, that may give you a clue. The issue of how Ᾱnanda heard these is also there:
1. Ᾱnanda recites at the convocation, saying “thus it a way heard by me”, and meaning that he heard it when the Buddha said that teaching.
2. Ᾱnanda recites at the convocation, saying “thus it a way heard by me”, and meaning that somebody told him that the Buddh gave such a teaching.

As it’s said by Ven- Ᾱnanda the first Buddhist council, in Sanskrit ‘Evam Me Sutam = Evam Maya Shratum’ - you can see it in some Mahāyāna sutras begins like that. Therefore, according to the Commentarial Theravada Tradition, the Brahmajāla sutta, “Evam me sutam” means ‘thus have I heard’. This particular sutra was also preached at the first Buddhist council.

by Ashin Indaka (Kyone Pyaw)