The Origin and Development of Buddhist Cannon

Abstract

         This qualitative study aims to document the origin and development of Buddhist scriptures. The results are that firstly, in the time before the great passing of the Lord Buddha, or Parinibbāna, his teachings had been verbally recited through his disciples. These words were later called “Dhammavinaya” when the Lord Buddha gradually regulated the Buddhist discipline, which had been verbally memorized and transmitted through a group of Upālī monks called Vinayadharas, who specialized in Vinaya. Dhamma was categorized in Navaṃgasatthusāsana.
A group of Ānanda monks who specialized in Suttas were called Suttantikas. Another group of monks called Dhammakathikas had Dhamma discussions that constituted the original background of Abhidhamma. Later, Sārīputta claimed there was conflict among the followers of Nigranthanāṭaputta. It was then that he asked for the Lord Buddha’s permission to collect and categorize Vinaya.
         After the Lord Buddha’s parinibbāna, the First Buddhist Council used the words “only the Dhamma-Vinaya”. At the Second Buddhist Council, it was found that Pirivāra was added in Vinaya, Dividing the Suras into 5 sects (Nikāyas) Paṭisambhidāmagga Nidesa Jataka in the Khuddaka Nikāya, and 6 scriptures appeared in the Abhidhamma Piṭaka. The records of the Third Buddhist Council mention the completion of Tipiṭaka: all Vinaya-piṭaka, Suttanta-piṭaka, and Abhidhamma-piṭaka were recited. After that, Moggalīputtatissa composed the Kathāvatthu and included it in the Abhidhamma-piṭaka.