First thing first, thank you A.K. Warder for making the effort to go all the way back to the Buddha’s time and connect the dots.
Those who are interested to know when and how the Mahayana sutras and the abhidhamma emerged may consider reading this book.
A.K. Warder began by explaining the Buddha’s teachings that is the Four Noble Truths and the path. He gave us an idea on what the teachings were according to the early buddhist texts. One has to be familiar with the Buddha’s teachings in order to understand what Warder was saying, as he used different vocabulary and expressions in describing and interpreting the text which is different from Bhikkhu Bodhi (you may have read the Nikāyas translated by him). I am a fan of Bhikkhu Bodhi and am so used to his way of expression and interpretation. I’ve heard some monks criticise him. However, to me, he is the best! Without him, I wouldn’t have understood the Dhamma. Bhikkhu Bodhi has benefited countless people. I may not understand the Pali Canon, but in my experience, “volitional formation” is still the best interpretation!
Warder explained how the Dhamma was interpolated by the monks from different schools of thoughts and how power played a role in shaping Buddhism. I am often curious about how monks started with poetry and story-telling and it was due to the popularity and trends during that time, as people wanted to make Buddhism more attractive. Some monks had been poets or actors before they gone forth. Warder also described how the first schism came about.
Finally, I have come to the topic of Nagarjuna. I remember reading his book “The Precious Garland” but I don’t remember what this book was all about. Probably because the Buddha’s teaching(Nikayas) had overshadowed his theories. In this book, Warder recalled what I had studied. Despite all the theories and ideas that Nagarjuna had presented based on his understanding, it only told me that he had not experienced the Buddha’s teachings. The Buddha’s teachings is profound but not complicated. They are straight forward only if we all make an effort, be heedful and listen to the Buddha and meditate.
Many new Mahayana sutras were created and added later. In order to claim that their sutras were the true teachings of the Buddha, some texts were derived from the early texts. The Pure Land school was also a later development. Shakyamuni Buddha spent six years of his life, going through so much sufferings in search of truth and liberation… only for it to be corrupted by all these monks who thought they were better than the Buddha! These monks have brought suffering to those who really wanted to know and practise the true teachings.
I couldn’t explain everything that Warder discovered. I didn’t and couldn’t memorise all the schools, places and the monks involved except the well-known ones. It’s a heavy book for me but I would still encourage anyone to read it if you would like to know more:).
What I am trying to say is, we don’t need Abhidhamma to understand the suttas. The suttas alone are sufficient for us to be on the path. Those who have understood the suttas would probably not waste time on Abhidhamma. Let’s not confuse our mind and complicate the Buddha’s teachings. The Buddha’s teaching on the Twelve Links of Dependent Origination is important. Do not cling to existence. Do not crave a land to be. Reaching out to the external (name and form) is activating our six sense bases and our conscious mind. All these would only lead us to endless sufferings, not towards liberation. This was not encouraged by the Buddha! Do not be misled!
Unless the Buddha himself taught the Bodhisattva path, teachings from unawakened beings may delay our learning and practice of the true Dhamma. Worse still, we may even end up in the three woeful realms because of teachings not taught by the Buddha but by ordinary monks.
Below is one of the poems believed to be composed during the Buddha’s time and I am very impressed.
First verse of an autobiographical peom:
Intoxicated with poetry we wandered from village to village, from city to city, then I saw the Buddha’s ho had gone beyond all principles.
Short poem on the Buddha:
More than a thousand monks attend on the Well-gone as he teaches the clear doctrine, nirvāna which knows no fear from any source,
They listen to the abundant doctrine taught by the Perfectly Enlightened One,
-how glorious the Buddha is, facing the community of monks!
O Master, your name is ‘Dragon’, best sages, for like a great cloud you rain on your pupils.
Leaving the afternoon rest from a wish to see the teacher,
O great hero, your pupil Vāgīśa salutes your feet.
On Sāriputra:
Profound and wise, learned in the Way and the wrong way,
Sāriputra of great understanding teaches the monk the doctrine;
He teaches briefly, also speaks in detail, pours out his improvisation like the song of the mynah bird;
By his beautiful voice, soft and exciting, the thoughts of the monks are elated and gladdened as they listen intently.
Cats who teach me to fly... 