A Comparison of the Pali and Chinese Versions of the Vangisa-thera Samyutta, a Collection of Early Buddhist Discourses on the Venerable Vangisa

Authors

  • Mun-Keat Choong

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1558/bsrv.v24i1.35

Keywords:

Vangīsathera Samyutta

Abstract

This article first briefly examines the textual structure of the Vangisathera Samyutta of the Pali Samyutta-nikaya in conjunction with two other versions preserved in Chinese translation in Taisho vol. 2, nos. 99 and 100. Then it compares the main teachings contained in the three versions. These three versions of this collection on the subject of the venerable Vangisa represent three different early Buddhist schools within the Sthavira branch. This comparative study of these three different versions focuses on three major topics: (i) Arhants at the pravarana ceremony; (ii) sensual desire and the way to extinguish it; and (iii) the Buddha’s teachings to Vangisa. It reveals similarities and significant differences in structure and doctrinal content, thus advancing the historical/critical study of early Buddhist doctrine in this area.

Author Biography

  • Mun-Keat Choong

    School of Classics, History and Religion, University of New England, Armidale, Australia

References

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Choong, Mun-keat. 1999. The Notion of Emptiness in Early Buddhism, 2nd rev. edn. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass.

Choong, Mun-keat. 2000. The Fundamental Teachings of Early Buddhism: A Comparative Study based on the Sutranga Portion of the Pali Samyutta-Nikaya and the Chinese Samyuktagama (Beiträge zur Indologie 32). Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz Verlag.

Choong, Mun-keat. 2006. ‘A Comparison of the Pali and Chinese Versions of the Bhikkhu Samyutta, A Collection of Early Buddhist Discourses on Monks’. Buddhist Studies Review 23(1): 61–70.

Enomoto, Fumio. 1994. A Comprehensive Study of the Chinese Samyuktagama: Indic Texts Corresponding to the Chinese Samyuktagama as Found in the Sarvastivada-Mulasarvastivada Literature. Kyoto: Kacho Junior College.

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Yin Shun. 1971. Yuanshi Fojiao Shengdian zhi Jicheng [The Formation of Early Buddhist Texts]. Taipei: Zhengwen Chubanshe.

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Published

2007-05-01

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Choong, M.-K. (2007). A Comparison of the Pali and Chinese Versions of the Vangisa-thera Samyutta, a Collection of Early Buddhist Discourses on the Venerable Vangisa. Buddhist Studies Review, 24(1), 35-45. https://doi.org/10.1558/bsrv.v24i1.35