The Tham Vessantara-jAtaka - Khamkoo

the teaching: the DIgha-nikAya, a collection of long discourses of the Buddha which
consists of thirty four long discourses, 2 the Majjhima-nikAya, 3 a collection of medium
length discourses of the Buddha, the Samyutta-nikAya, 4 a collection of 7762 suttas of
varied in length, Anguttara-nikAya, 5 a collection of 9557 short suttas which is divided
into eleven divisions called NipAtas, were assigned SAriputta, MahAkassapa, Anuruddha
and to AnandA respectively and their pupils. It is believed that the Khuddaka-nikAya, 6
the rest of the sayings of the Buddha excluding the first four nikAyas, was explained by
Ven. Ananda at this Council. However, there are many different opinions, amongst
many scholars which we cannot go into detail here, 7 regarding the development of the
Khuddaka-nikAya.
A hundred years after the Buddha’s passing away, the Second Buddhist Council
was held at VesAlI under the patronage of King KalAsoka with the participation of 700
Bhikkhus, presided over by Ven. Revata Dhamma. This Council came into existence as
a result of Vijji monks practising the ten points, 8 which go against the orthodox point of
2
The DIgha-nikAya is a collection of long discourses of the Buddha which consists of thirty-four long
discourses. The collection is divided into three categories: i. SIlakkhanda Vagga, concerning morality, ii.
MahA Vagga, the large division, iii. PAthika Vagga, about the discourse on the naked ascetic. Ko Lay,
Guide to TipiTak, p. 22.
3
The Majjhima-nikAya is a collection of medium length discourses of the Buddha. This collection has
one hundred and fifty two suttas which forms three books called PaBBasa. The three books are
MUlapaBBasa dealing with the first fifty suttas in five vaggas, the second is called MajjhimapaBBasa
which consists of the second fifty suttas in five vaggas and the third one is called UparipaBBasa consisting
of fifty two suttas in five vaggas.
4
The SaMyutta-nikAya is a collection of 7762 suttas of varied length, generally short arranged in a
special order according to subject matter.
5 The ANguttara-nikAya is a collection of 9557 short suttas which is divided into eleven divisions called
NipAtas. These discourses are an important source book on Buddhist psychology and ethics.
6 The Khuddaka-nikAya is a collection of the largest numerous treatises and the most numerous categories
of the Dhamma.
7
See detail of it (1), Abeynayaka, A textual and Historical Analysis of The Khuddaka-nikAya, (2)
Norman, PAli Literature.
8
Ten Points practiced by Vajjian monks:
(1) SangiloBakappa, the practice of carrying salt in a horn which is against PAcittiya number 38
(2) Dvangulakappa, the practice of taking meals when the shadow is two fingers broad which is against
PAcittya rule number 37 that forbids the taking food after midday,
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