Articles

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Early and late in MN 117

This article proposes comparisons between the textual material contained in the Mahācattārīsaka Sutta and texts of late origin, such as the Abhidhamma and some of the works found in the Khuddaka Nikāya. It will show that it is a patchwork of what is probably early material and inserted late formulas. It will also explore the doctrinal implications of those passages that have most likely been added to the original. When I first wrote this article, I was unware of Bhante Analayo's The Mahācattārīsaka-sutta in the Light of its Parallels – Tracing the Beginnings of Abhidharmic Thought, where besides confirming the arguments presented here, Bhante provides additional evidences gathered through comparisons with the Chinese and Tibetan counterparts of this sutta: the latter do not contain the passages highlighted in the present document as being probably imported from late sources.

Ekāyano maggo: the path leading to one goal

Getting rid of sectarian terminology.

Parimukhaṃ: at the entrance

Clarifying the meaning of this so important word.