The Agamas and the Pali Canon

[Dharma Flower]

Are there any contradictions between what's taught in the Chinese Agamas vs. what's taught in the Pali canon? I appreciate your help.

[Agnikan]

Check out the works of Bhikkhu Analayo, such as his Comparative Study of the Majjhima Nikaya.

[ThreeVows]

Generally, I think you might have a better response on this board: https://dhammawheel.com/index.php?sid=3 ... bd99e09a25, as this isn't specifically a Mahayana topic.

With that said, I am no expert but I believe there are slight differences. However, the general gist is more or less the same.

[Admin_PC]

There are some surprising contradictions, if not directly then by interpretation.

Chapter 1 of the Dirgha Agama mentions Akanistha Pure Abode as a location of prior birth of Shakyamuni. Also says he studied with Buddhas in the past. These are 2 fairly huge departures from some tenets of the Theravada school.

[Dharma Flower]

Generally, I think you might have a better response on this board: https://dhammawheel.com/index.php?sid=3 ... bd99e09a25, as this isn't specifically a Mahayana topic.

Thank you for your response. As you may know, the agamas are in the Mahayana canon of scripture.

[Dharma Flower]

There are some surprising contradictions, if not directly then by interpretation.

Chapter 1 of the Dirgha Agama mentions Akanistha Pure Abode as a location of prior birth of Shakyamuni. Also says he studied with Buddhas in the past. These are 2 fairly huge departures from some tenets of the Theravada school.

Thank you for your response. Is it more likely that the differences are coincidental or that Theravadins deliberately removed Mahayana-sounding elements from their scriptures?

[Lucas Oliveira]

Can we bridge the two vehicles?

https://dhammawheel.com/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=28780

[Dharma Flower]

Here is a passage from the agamas that if, taken literally, might not fit with certain interpretations of Mahayana teachings, "All Buddhas and world-Honored Ones emerge from the human realm; they do not attain buddhahood somewhere above the heavens."

[crazy-man]

https://dhammawheel.com/viewtopic.php?t=21174
https://dhammawheel.com/viewtopic.php?t=23346

Comparative Catalogue of Chinese Agamas and Pali Nikayas
https://www.amazon.com/Comparative-Cata ... 8170302315

The Authenticity of the Suttas of the Pali Canon
http://www.leighb.com/palisuttas.htm

The Pali Canon compared to the Agamas
https://digitaltermpapers.com/essays/th ... the-agamas

studies in agama literature - Marcus Bingenheimer
http://mbingenheimer.net/publications/b ... t_2011.pdf

A Digital Comparative Catalog of Āgama Literature
http://mbingenheimer.net/tools/comcat/indexComcat.html

[Dharma Flower]

Here is a passage from the agamas that if, taken literally, might not fit with certain interpretations of Mahayana teachings, "All Buddhas and world-Honored Ones emerge from the human realm; they do not attain buddhahood somewhere above the heavens."

What I get from reading this passage is that it's only in the human realm, rather than a Pure Land beyond samsara, in which we can attain Buddhahood. Please forgive me if I am misreading the intent of the passage.

[tingdzin]

It might be an unsolvable mystery.

Ultimately, this has to be the case.