The Buddhist texts were compiled in Pali. The Pali canons are called as the Tripitakas (Three Baskets). They are
- Vinaya Pitaka: deals with monastic rules and moral disciplines
- Sutta Pitaka : Sutta Pitaka dwells upon discourses and teachings of Buddha. It is divided into five groups or Nikayas. They contain popular works such as Theragatha and Therigatha (Hymns of the Elder Monks and Nuns) and Jataka tales (Buddha’s deeds in previous births as Bodhisattva).
- Abhidhamma Pitaka : expounds Buddhist philosophy. Other important Buddhist works include
- Milinda Panha, a discussion between Greco Bactrian king Menander and Buddhist monk Nagasena, and Ceylonese chronicles Dipavamsa , Mahavamsa and Culavamsa.
| SCHOOLS OF BUDDHISM | |
| MAHAYANA BUDDHISM | Mahayana is a Sanskrit phrase that literally means “Great Vehicle”.
Sought redemption by the grace and assistance of Buddha and Bodhisattvas. It began in northern India and Kashmir and then moved eastward into Central Asia, East Asia, and parts of Southeast Asia. It was believed that Buddha will be born again. Worship Buddha as an idol. Language: Sanskrit. Sub-schools include Chittmatra and Madhyamaka. Zen is a subschool of Mahayana found in China and Korea, and is tied to Taoism. The Mahayana tradition is represented by Buddhist schools in China, Korea, Tibet, and Japan. |
| HINAYANA BUDDHISM | Considered Smaller vehicle.
it also called as abandoned or defective vehicle. It adheres to the Buddha’s basic teachings or the doctrine of the elders. Followed Buddha’s original teachings. Sought individual salvation via self-discipline and meditation. Buddha will never be reincarnated. Didn’t believe in idol worship. Language: Pali. Buddha was an intellectual, not a divinity. Includes 18 subschools. Most important: Sarvastivada, Theravadin, and Sautantrika. |
| THERAVADA AND SARVASTIVADA | Theravada Buddhism, the older and more conservative of the two main branches of Buddhism, is frequently referred to as the ‘traditions of the elder’.
Theravada is a Hinayana sect. Theravada Buddhists aim to become Arhats, achieving liberation from the cycle of samsara. Sarvastivadins believe that everything empirical is transient, but that dharma components persist forever. The dharmas are regarded to work briefly, causing the deceptive empirical facts of the universe, but to exist outside of it. Theravada Buddhism originated in Sri Lanka and expanded to the rest of Southeast Asia. It is the most prevalent religion in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. |
| VAJRAYANA | Vajrayana, often known as tantric Buddhism, means “The Vehicle of the Thunderbolt”.
This Buddhist school originated in India about 900 CE. Believed in attaining magical power to achieve emancipation. Developed in Tibet and believes in the worship of female deities called Taras. It gained popularity in Eastern India, notably Bengal and Bihar. |
| ZEN | It is a Mahayana Buddhist school that began in China during the Tang dynasty as the Chan school of Chinese Buddhism and has since evolved into other schools.
It spread to Japan in the seventh century CE. Meditation is the main distinguishing characteristic of this Buddhist practice. |
Causes for the Decline of Buddhism in India
- The revival of Brahmanism and the rise of Bhagavatism led to the fall of popularity of Buddhism.
- The use of Pali, the language of the masses as the language of Buddhism was given up from the 1st century A.D. The Buddhists began to adopt Sanskrit, the language of the elite.
- After the birth of Mahayana Buddhism, the practice of idol worship and making offerings led to the deterioration of moral standards.
- Moreover, the attack of the Huns in 5th and 6th centuries and the Turkish invaders in 12th century destroyed the monasteries.
- All these factors contributed to the decline of Buddhism in India.
