Mahayana Sutras
Mahayana sutras began to be compiled from the first century BCE. They form the basis of the various Mahayana schools, and survive predominantly in primary translations in Chinese and Tibetan of original texts often written in variations of Sanskrit. From the Chinese and Tibetan texts, secondary translations were also made into Mongolian, Korean, Japanese and Sogdian.
Unlike the Pali Canon, there is no definitive Mahayana canon as such. Nevertheless the major printed or manuscript collections, published through the ages and preserved in Chinese and Tibetan, each contain parallel translations of the majority of known Mahayana sutra. The Chinese also wrote several indigenous sutras and included them into their Mahayana canon as did the Tibetan Buddhist community.
Mahayana Buddhists believe that the Mahayana sutras, with the possible exception of those with an explicitly Chinese origins, are an authentic account of teachings given during the Buddha's lifetime. However, Theravada Buddhists believe them to be later inventions of monks striving to change the original teachings of Buddha, and consider the Mahayana sutras apocryphal.
While scholars agree that the Mahayana scriptures were composed from the first century CE onwards, with some of them having their roots in other scriptures, composed in the first century BCE, some Mahayana Buddhists believe that the Mahayana sutras were written down at the time of the Buddha and stored secretly for 500 years, uncovered when people were ready for these "higher teachings." That is one interesting theory, and a bit egocentric, yes? The Buddha proclaimed during his lifetime that he held nothing back and gave no secret teaching.
Let us consider the Mahayana Scriptures as expedient means. They are meant to guide the reader to an experience of awakening by often using symbolic language as a method of conveying truths for which words are inadequate. In these Scriptures are open secrets as to the nature of reality.
©2014-2016 Hongaku Jodo
Unlike the Pali Canon, there is no definitive Mahayana canon as such. Nevertheless the major printed or manuscript collections, published through the ages and preserved in Chinese and Tibetan, each contain parallel translations of the majority of known Mahayana sutra. The Chinese also wrote several indigenous sutras and included them into their Mahayana canon as did the Tibetan Buddhist community.
Mahayana Buddhists believe that the Mahayana sutras, with the possible exception of those with an explicitly Chinese origins, are an authentic account of teachings given during the Buddha's lifetime. However, Theravada Buddhists believe them to be later inventions of monks striving to change the original teachings of Buddha, and consider the Mahayana sutras apocryphal.
While scholars agree that the Mahayana scriptures were composed from the first century CE onwards, with some of them having their roots in other scriptures, composed in the first century BCE, some Mahayana Buddhists believe that the Mahayana sutras were written down at the time of the Buddha and stored secretly for 500 years, uncovered when people were ready for these "higher teachings." That is one interesting theory, and a bit egocentric, yes? The Buddha proclaimed during his lifetime that he held nothing back and gave no secret teaching.
Let us consider the Mahayana Scriptures as expedient means. They are meant to guide the reader to an experience of awakening by often using symbolic language as a method of conveying truths for which words are inadequate. In these Scriptures are open secrets as to the nature of reality.
©2014-2016 Hongaku Jodo
