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The Great Sutra Treasury - Southern Transmission 29

Thich Nhat Hanh · March 1, 1990 · Plum Village, France
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In the first part, the Teacher presents the system of abbreviations for the sūtras and vinaya texts according to three main groups:

  1. In the Southern Transmission Vinaya:

    1. SV (Sutta Vibhaṅga) = KPB (Discourse Distinction)
    2. Parajika = Section on Defeat
    3. Pācittiya = Section on Confession (PAC)
    4. Mahākhandhaka = Great Section (MV)
    5. Cullavagga = Minor Section (CV)
    6. Kiṇḍaka Nikāya = Khandhaka (KH)

  2. In the Pāli Canon:

    1. Dīgha Nikāya (D)
    2. Long Discourses (Long D.)
    3. Middle Length Discourses (Middle D.)
    4. Connected Discourses (Connected D.)
    5. Numerical Discourses (Numerical D.)
    6. Khuddaka Nikāya (Minor D./K.)
    7. Khuddakapāṭha (Khp.)
    8. Udāna (U.)
    9. Itivuttaka (NTN)
    10. Sutta Nipāta (KT.)
    11. Dhammapada (PC.)
    12. Theragāthā (Thag.)

  3. In the Taishō Tripitaka of the Northern Transmission:
    – ĐC. (Taishō) corresponds to Taishō; each sūtra is numbered, such as ĐC.1 (Dīrgha Āgama), ĐC.1,2 (Traveling Sūtra), ĐC.1,16 (Good Birth), ĐC.26 (Madhyama Āgama), etc.

Next, the Teacher introduces the structure of the Southern Transmission Vinaya, consisting of three main parts: Discourse Distinction, Section on Defeat, and Khandhaka (including Great Section – Mahāvagga, Minor Section – Cullavagga, and Parivāra with 19 chapters). Specifically:

  1. Great Section (Mahāvagga) – 10 khandhakas:

    1. Mahākhandhaka (Great Khandhaka)
    2. Uposatha (Uposatha Khandhaka)
    3. Vassapanāyika (Entering the Rains Retreat)
    4. Pavārana (Invitation)
    5. Camma Khandhaka (Leather)
    6. Bhesajjakkhandhaka (Medicine)
    7. Kathina Khandhaka (Kathina)
    8. Cīvara Khandhaka (Robes)
    9. Campeyya (Champā)
    10. Kosambi (Kosambi)

  2. Minor Section (Cullavagga) – 12 khandhakas:

    1. Kammavacanakhandhaka (Procedures)
    2. Parivāsakakhandhaka (Probation)
    3. Samuccayakhandhaka (Collection)
    4. Samathakhandhaka (Settlement of Disputes)
    5. Khuddhakavattukhandhaka (Minor Duties)
    6. Senāsanakkhandhaka (Lodgings)
    7. Saṅghabhedakakhandhaka (Schism in the Sangha)
    8. Vattakhandhaka (Rules of Conduct)
    9. Pāṭimokkhaṭhāpana (Recitation of the Precepts)
    10. Bhikkhunī (Bhikkhunī)
    11. Paṇḍakkhandhaka (The Five Hundred)
    12. Sattasatikakhandhaka (The Seven Hundred)

Finally, the Parivāra (appendix) arranges the teachings according to 19 topics. The Teacher compares this with the Dharmaguptaka Vinaya of the Northern Transmission, noting that only the names differ and the last two chapters are not listed as khandhakas, affirming the essential unity and preservation of the original nature.

In the final part, the Teacher emphasizes the importance of digesting the teachings, quoting the “simple and elegant” experience in Mindfulness of Breathing, and also shares letters and poems from students (Géraldine, Michael, Thanh, Đoàn An, etc.) expressing joy, mindfulness, and the ability to apply the Dharma door in daily life.

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Tripitaka - Southern Transmission 28 B

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