Author Affiliation: Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel.
摘要
Visions of the Buddha offers a ground-breaking approach to the nature of the early discourses of the Buddha, the most foundational scriptures of Buddhist religion. Although the early discourses are commonly considered to be attempts to preserve the Buddha's teachings, Shulman demonstrates that these texts are full of creativity, and that their main aim is to beautify the image of the wonderous Buddha. While the texts surely care for the early teachings and for the Buddha's philosophy or his guidelines for meditation, and while at times they may relate real historical events, they are no less interested in telling good stories, in re-working folkloric materials, and in the visionary contemplation of the Buddha in order to sense his unique presence. The texts can thus be, at times, a type of meditation. -- Eviatar Shulman frames the early discourses as literary masterpieces that helped Buddhism achieve the wonderful success it has obtained. Much of the discourses' masterful storytelling was achieved through a technique of composition defined here as the play of formulas. In the oral literature of early Buddhism, texts were composed of formulas, which are repeated within and between texts. Shulman argues that the formulas are the real texts of Buddhism, and are primary to full discourses. Shaping texts through the play of formulas balances conservative and innovative tendencies within the tradition, making room for creativity within accepted forms and patterns. The texts we find today are thus versions--remnants--chosen by history of a much more vibrant and dynamic creative process.
目次
Preface ix I. THE LITERARY APPROACH TO THE EARLY DISCOURSES 1. Introduction: Rereading the Udumbarika-sutta 3 A First Textual Analysis: Why the Udumbarika-sutta? 10 The Formulaic Opening of the Mahasakuludayi-sutta as a Literary Preamble to the Udumbarika 14 The Opening of the Pali Udumbarika-sutta 19 The Philosophy of the Udumbarika 25 Versions of the Udumbarika-sutta 28 Conclusion 37 2. Literary Design in the Early Discourses 41 Multivalence in the Majjhima Nikaya: A Reading of the Culatanhasankhaya-sutta 48 The Art of Narrative in the Sila-kkhandha-vagga I: The Brahmajala 54 The Art of Narrative in the Sila-kkhandha-vagga II: The Samaññaphala 60 Applying and Reapplying the SKV Formula 65 What is Editing? 73 Conclusion: The Art of Interpretation in the Nikayas 79 II. INNER AND OUTER WORLDS OF LITERARY EXPRESSION 3. Mindfulness of the Buddha in the Mahaparinibbana-sutta 83 Reading and Listening to the Mahaparinibbana-sutta (MPS) 93 The Climax: The Buddha Relinquishes His Life 99 Nearing the Buddha's Death 107 Death and its Aftermath 111 Epilogue: Ananda's Vision of the Buddha Before His Enlightenment 113 4. The Folklore of Sutta: Performance in the Early Discourses and Texts as Versions 119 Buddhist Fun in the Patika-sutta 125 The Patika as a Version 132 A Doctrinal Version 135 The Buddha's Perplexing Austerities in the Mahasihanada 139 Bring in the Jatakas 141 The Closing Section of the Patika 144 Conclusion 145 III. COMPOSING BUDDHIST SCRIPTURE THROUGH THE PLAY OF FORMULAS 5. The Play of Formulas: Toward a Theory of Composition for the Early Discourses 149 The Perils of Historicism in Buddhist Studies 150 Literary Solutions to Historicist Fallacies 156 The Primacy of the Formula 165 An Alternative Approach 171 The Play of Formulas and the Unanswered Questions 174 Playing with Formulas on Brahmin-Householders 180 Conclusion: Buddhist Orality Revisited 191 6. Re-telling the Buddha's Enlightenment in the Majjhima Nikaya 200 Awakening in the Bhayabherava-Sutta ("The Discourse on Fear and Dread," MN 4) 201 The Dvedhavitakka-Sutta ("The Discourse on Two Types of Thoughts," MN 19) 204 The Ariyapariyesana-Sutta ("The Discourse on the Noble Search," MN 26) 207 The Mahasaccaka-Sutta ("The Greater Discourse with Saccaka," MN 36) 215 The Bodhirajakumara-Sutta ("The Discourse to Prince Bodhi," MN 85) 218 The Sangarava-Sutta ("The Discourse to Sangarava," MN 100) 222 The Art of Narrative in the Sila-kkhandha-vagga I: The Brahmajala Conclusion 223 7. Conclusion: The Play of Formulas and Meditative Practice 225 Bibliography 235
