4 Evaluate the status of the Tipitaka as the foundation of Buddhist belief and practice (30) 2018 Exam Q
The Tipitaka, also known as the Pali Canon, is a collection of Buddhist scriptures and is considered the foundational text of Theravada Buddhism. It consists of three main sections: the Vinaya Pitaka, which contains rules and regulations for the monastic community; the Sutta Pitaka, which contains discourses attributed to the Buddha; and the Abhidhamma Pitaka, which contains detailed analysis of Buddhist doctrine.
The status of the Tipitaka as the foundation of Buddhist belief and practice is a topic of much debate among scholars. On the one hand, many scholars argue that the Tipitaka represents the earliest and most reliable record of the Buddha's teachings and therefore should be considered the authoritative source for Buddhist doctrine. On the other hand, some scholars question the historical accuracy of the Tipitaka and argue that it may not accurately reflect the Buddha's original teachings. Moreover the Tipitaka is considered to be the word of the Buddha himself. According to Buddhist tradition, the Buddha’s teachings were orally transmitted by his disciples for several centuries before they were written down. Here I will argue that the Tipitaka represents the earliest extant record of the Buddha’s teachings, and as such, it is regarded as the most authentic and authoritative source.
As Buddhist scholar Rupert Gethin notes, “The Tipitaka…is the closest we can get to the original teachings of the Buddha” (Gethin, 1998, p. 5). This view is supported by the fact that the Pali language in which the Tipitaka was written was the language spoken by the Buddha himself. This means that the texts are not only an accurate record of the Buddha’s teachings but also a direct link to his words. One of the most prominent scholars to advocate for the authenticity of the Tipitaka is the Pali scholar and translator Bhikkhu Bodhi. Bodhi argues that the Tipitaka represents the earliest and most reliable record of the Buddha's teachings, and that the teachings contained in the Tipitaka have been transmitted from generation to generation with a high degree of accuracy. He writes:
"The Pali Canon is the earliest and most complete collection of the Buddha's teachings that has survived. It was compiled by the Theravada school, which has preserved the original teachings of the Buddha in its pristine purity. The Pali Canon is therefore the most reliable source for the Buddha's teachings, and it provides the foundation for the Buddhist faith."
(Bhikkhu Bodhi, "The Buddha's Teaching as it is," p. xi)
Against this argument other scholars, however, have questioned the historical accuracy of the Tipitaka. For example, the Buddhist scholar and historian Richard Gombrich argues that the Tipitaka may not accurately reflect the Buddha's original teachings, and that the texts may have been influenced by later developments in Buddhist thought. He writes:
"In many cases, the texts we have may be later formulations rather than accurate records of what the Buddha actually said. The Tipitaka is a product of a long process of development, during which the early Buddhist teachings were modified and elaborated upon in many ways."
(Richard Gombrich, "What the Buddha Thought," p. 35)
Despite these debates, the Tipitaka remains a central text in Theravada Buddhism and is studied and revered by millions of Buddhists around the world. The teachings contained in the Tipitaka are considered essential for achieving enlightenment, and many Buddhists view the Tipitaka as the ultimate authority on Buddhist doctrine and practice. The Tipitaka provides a comprehensive and systematic account of Buddhist doctrine and ethics. The Sutta Pitaka, for example, contains discourses on a wide range of topics, including the nature of reality, the Four Noble Truths, and the Eightfold Path. The Abhidhamma Pitaka, on the other hand, provides a more detailed analysis of the Buddha’s teachings, focusing on the nature of consciousness and the mental factors that shape our experience. As Buddhist scholar Paul Williams notes, “The Pali Canon is…a comprehensive and systematic body of doctrine and ethics” (Williams, 2005, p. 10). This means that the Tipitaka is not only a historical record of the Buddha’s teachings but also a guide to Buddhist practice.
The Tipitaka serves as the basis for the development of Buddhist philosophy and theology. Many of the key concepts and debates in Buddhist philosophy are rooted in the Tipitaka. For example, the concept of anatta (not-self) is a central tenet of Buddhist philosophy, and it is extensively discussed in the Sutta Pitaka. The Abhidhamma Pitaka, on the other hand, provides a detailed analysis of the nature of consciousness, which has been the subject of much debate among Buddhist philosophers. As Buddhist scholar Damien Keown notes, “The Pali Canon has been the principal source for the development of Buddhist philosophy and theology” (Keown, 2000, p. 26). This means that the Tipitaka is not only a record of the Buddha’s teachings but also a foundation for the development of Buddhist thought.
Further, the Tipitaka is the basis for Buddhist practice. The Vinaya Pitaka provides the rules and regulations for the monastic community, which is an essential aspect of Buddhist practice. The Sutta Pitaka, on the other hand, contains a wealth of teachings on meditation, ethics, and other practices that are essential for the development of the Buddhist path. As Buddhist scholar Bhikkhu Bodhi notes, “The Pali Canon provides the basis for Buddhist practice, with its instructions on meditation, ethical conduct, and the cultivation of wisdom” (Bodhi, 2012, p. 8).
Synoptically this links to ethics especially Virtue ethics and natural moral law ethics. The idea of the Buddha is that we would understand ethics as a progressive development of the self through the practices of mediatation and wisdom. Such disiplines would purify the mind and thus the charater of the ndividual. The idea of the ten parimas or perfections or virtues found in the Tipitaka pali Cannon reflects this agent based idea of ethics similiar to Aristotles emphasis on euadamonia or the flourishing life.
In conclusion given its importance within the Buddhist tradition, and that the Tipitaka has also been studied and analyzed by scholars from a wide range of academic disciplines, including religious studies, philosophy, and history it can easily be argued it is of central importance. Many of these scholars have recognized the value and significance of the Tipitaka as a historical and cultural document. For example, the scholar A.K. Warder, in his book "Indian Buddhism," describes the Tipitaka as "the most important record we possess of the Indian religious culture of the Buddha's time and for some centuries afterwards." He goes on to explain: "The study of the Pali Canon is essential for anyone interested in the cultural history of India, for it provides the most detailed and accurate record of the religious ideas and practices of the time." (A.K. Warder, "Indian Buddhism," p. 39) Similarly, the philosopher David Kalupahana, in his book "A History of Buddhist Philosophy," emphasizes the importance of the Tipitaka as a primary source for understanding Buddhist thought and practice. He writes: "The Pali Canon remains the only authentic and reliable source..."
4 Evaluate the significance of the Tipitaka as a source of wisdom . (30)
4 Evaluate the interpretation of the Tipitaka as a source of wisdom by different Buddhist traditions . (30)
4. Evaluate the the strengths and weaknesses of use and treatment of the Tipitaka by Theravada Buddhists. (30)
4 Evaluate the claim that it does not matter that the Tipitaka does not give a life of the Buddha. (30)
4 Evaluate status of the Tipitaka as the teachings of the Buddha . (30)
4 Evaluate the opinion the strenghts and weaknesss of the claim that the collection and formation of the Tipitaka shows it is the word of the Buddha. (30)
4 Evaluate the claim that the Tipitaka is the most significance source of wisdom for Buddhists. (30)
4 Evaluate the status of the of the Vinaya Pitaka and how this aims to produce a cohesive community. (30)
4 Evaluate the claim that the Vinya Pitaka is the most significant section of the Tipitaka in Buddhist traditions today.
4 Evaluate the success of Sutta Pikata in helping Buddhists on the search for Enlightenment. (30)
4. Evaluate the the success of Sutta Pikata in helping Buddhists on the search for Enlightenment . (30)
4 Evaluate the debate between about whether the Abhidhamma Pitaka is essential in the interpretation and understanding of the Buddha’s teachings. (30)
4 Evaluate the the relevance of the claim that Abhidhamma Pitaka as the work of the Buddha himself. (30)
4 Evaluate the claim that the that a the impact of the Tipitaka as a source of wisdom in Buddhism is limited as not all Buddhist recognise its importance. (30)