Previous Research On Nirvana Sutra

Buddha Sakyamuni appeared in the world for one great reason alone.He earnestly and diligently preached Buddha wisdom to all living beings for forty-nine years,and then entered nirvana.The so-called Nirvana,as the name suggests,is the records of how Buddha entered nirvana.In the Buddhist scriptures,Nirvana is one of the important divisions.It has numerous versions which are divided into early and late ones.Since the introduction of the late versions of Mahaparinibbana-Sutra into China,they have attracted much attention from numerous researchers and the academic achievements about the Sutra are voluminous.However,the five early versions of Nirvana existing till today---You Xing Jing of Dirghagama-Sutra,Mahaparinibbana-Sutra of Fa Xian 's translation,Fo Bo Ni Huan Jing,Bo Ni Huan Jing and the Southern Mahaparinibbana-Sutra---have always been ignored and in want of being studied.These five early versions of Nirvana faithfully recorded the deeds of Buddha in his whole life,which concerns how we inherit the legacy of Thus Come One.Its importance should not be neglected.These five early versions of Nirvana differ in scriptures.Some different parts are not related to the main theme and could be discussed later;but some parts are conflicting and should be differentiated and analyzed.In this thesis,the author put forward 14 questions after thoroughly comparing and contrasting these five versions:1.How was the true situation when Anada was deceived by the devil king and did not invite Thus Come One to endure in the world?2.When World-Honored One enjoyed his last offerings,did he eat sandalwood fungus which aggravated his physical pain?3.How about World-Honored One's last drinking,bathing?4.After Thus Come One entered extinction,how was the Buddha body buried?5.After Buddha entered nirvana,how to test those who gave up non-Buddhist doctrines and became Buddhist?6.After Buddha entered nirvana,did the Buddha's disciples take the sutra as the teacher,or take both the sutra and precept as the teacher?7.After Buddha entered nirvana,how did the Buddha's disciples call each other?8.What were the specific names of the twelve Sutras?9.After Buddha Sakyamuni entered extinction,how soon was Buddha Maitreya born?10.After Buddha entered nirvana,what was the response from the heavenly and human beings of the entire world?11.After the Buddha body was cremated,how many stupas were built to house the Buddha relics?12.How did Bhikhu Mahakashyapa and others interrogate Anada's guilt?13.How were Buddhist sutras compiled?14.How to explain the time record written down at the end of the Nirvana?On the basis of combing through the corresponding literature,the author closely and carefully examined and analyzed the 14 questions,then raised his own opinions.Zengzi once said,"When a bird is about to die,its notes are mournful;when a man is about to die,his words are good." As Buddha Shakyamuni was about to enter extinction,his words and deeds must have some intention.That is what so-called death-bed injunction means.Although the early versions of Nirvana mainly narrate the Buddha's entering nirvana and do not contain too much theoretical trace,when intensively reading the scriptures,we are still capable of finding some conceptual connotation.Firstly,the perfect unification between 'reincarnation' and 'sabbe dhamma anatta'.Before Buddha entered nirvana,he repeatedly preached'reincarnation',and also emphasized 'sabbe dhamma anatta' to his disciples.'Reincarnation' is an important theory of Buddhism;'Sabbe dhamma anatta' is one of the three famous 'Dharma Seals',both of which are the core concepts of Buddhism.Since the modern times,some scholars from the East and the West have argued that'Reincarnation' and 'Sabbe dhamma anatta' contradict each other and could not reconcile.While in Milindapanha,Nagasena successfully solved this contradiction by clearly elaborating the relation and inner mechanism between 'Reincarnation' and'Sabbe dhamma anatta'.Secondly,the classic origin of the four reliances.From the earliest You Xing Jing and Sheng Wen Pin of Ekottarikagama-Sutra to late Mahaparinibbana-Sutra,then to Great Treatise on the Perfection of Wisdom and Yogacara-bhumi-Sastra,in addition,to Da Fang Bian Fo Bao En Jing and Vimalakirti-nirdesa,the four reliances produced new meanings in varied Sutras and Sastras of different schools at different periods.Thirdly,the concepts of nirvana of the original Buddhism.Nirvana refers to the eradication of greed,anger,stupidity and all other worries.It is generally divided into two kinds:nirvana with corporal remainder and nirvana without corporal remainder.As for Buddha's attitude toward nirvana,he preferred 'not abiding in nirvana'.As for how to reach the realm of nirvana,Buddha particularly gave eight righteous ways,thirty-seven aids to the way and ten ways of entering nirvana.Among them,the eight righteous ways are the most fundamental.In Buddhism the three practices---morality,concentration and wisdom---could incorporate the eight righteous ways;therefore,doing the three practices,namely attaining concentration from morality and from concentration attaining wisdom,is the must way to nirvana.In addition,the concepts of nirvana between the original Buddhism and the Mahayana Buddhism have some similarities.