When the multitudinous Abhidharma philosophy of Sarvastivadin developed,the literature of Buddhist `avadana` stories also prospered. This is because that in the activity of secular teaching,the dharma preachers employed the biography of the Buddha, the bodhisattvas and arahant disciples as well as the folklores as examples to expound dharma. Therefore, many `avadana` scriptures were compiled one by one. These include the parable scriptures of religious stories which contain `avadana` only and other parable scriptures which add folklore stories to `avadana`. This paper investigates two `sutras` each of the two categories. Ths `sutra` of Collected Hundred Occasions and The `sutra` of Sagehood and Stupidity belong to the purely `avadana` scripture, while The `sutra` of Miscellaneous jewels and The `sutra` of Great Adornment Commentary belong to other parable scriptures.
The methodology is to investigate these four `sutras` individually. The steps are:
(1) To examine the author,the translator and the time of writing and translation of each `sutra`. (2) To analyze the style of each `sutra`. The style may be classified into "`avadana` of recognition","`avadana` of jataka","`avadana` of cause and condition",etc. There are only very few `sutras` of purely parable. The analysis shows that `avadana` has relationship of substance with time. The leading figure of the story is always put in the long stream of time to describe the process of life in many periods of birth and death. The worldly and hidden sides are transformed into a series of events of religious side. Besides, these `sutras` usually have particular centain modes in writing. Especially,the parable `Sutras` of purely `avadana` such as The `Sutra` of Collected Hundred Occasions and the `sutra` of Sagehood and Stupidity almost follow the writing style of the `agama` `sutra` :
(a) Thus as I have heard. (The `Sutra` of Sagehood and stupidity has this sentence.) (b) Once,the Buddha was at... (The person, time and place of preaching the `sutra` are mentioned.) (c) Together with (how many) disciples. (The status and number of the listeners are listed.) (d) Turn to the subject and tell the story. (e) The sermon of telling the story. (f) After hearing what the Buddha said,all the audience are full of happiness to follow the teaching.
(3) To analyze the contents of each `sutra`. It is found that these `sutras` contain mainly the parable of karma and retribution. The thought of karma itself is very complicated,very deep and very profound. When the concrete face of karma is constructed by means of story,the languag