The Early Schools of Indian Buddhism Series

in #mindfulness6 years ago (edited)

Buddhist schools in the 7th Century A.D. according to the Chinese pilgrim Yuan-Chuang

Part 11

Section 1 — The Travels of Yuan-Chuang and its Importance to Indian History

Yuan-Chuang was a Chinese Buddhist monk, who traveled from China to India and back, his pilgrimage lasting sixteen years, between 629 and 645 A.D. He made his journey to India in search of complete texts in their original language of the Vinaya Pitaka (Books of the Discipline), the Sutra Pitaka, and the Shastras (commentaries) of the Indian pundits. He did so, as he was dissatisfied with the Chinese translations that were available to him in his monastery, as well as his eagerness to gain the right understanding of the difficult to grasp doctrines that were included in the teachings. His travel account has survived as the text entitled ‘Record of Western Lands of the Great T’ang period,’ and includes valuable historical information about the state of Buddhism as religion and culture in the regions that he visited in the seventh Century A.D.

Xuanzang

His sixteen year itinerary was comprehensive:

  • 630 A.D., at Sha-lo-ka monastery in Kapisa, The Master rested the Rain-season in this temple.
  • 631-632 A.D., in Kashmir (stayed two years, from around May 631 to April 633).
  • 633 A.D., at Chinabbukti in Eastern Panjab (stayed fourteen month).
  • 634 A.D., at Jalandhara (four months’ stay).
  • 635 A.D., at Matipura in Bijnor District (stayed for half the spring and the following summer).
  • 636 A.D., at Kanauj (stayed at the Bhadra-vihara for three months; and, after leaving, was attacked by the river pirates ‘in the autumn’).
  • 637 A.D., at Nalanda in Bihar (stayed for some time; returned, and then stayed for fifteen months more. Counting his subsequent visit at the end of
  • 642 A.D., his total residence at Nalanda amounted to about two years).
  • 638 A.D., in Irina country (Mungir), where he stayed for a year).
  • 639 A.D., at either Amaravati or Bezvada on the Krishna, where he resided for several months.
  • 640 A.D., at Kanchi probably, the most southern point attained, where he halted evidently for a considerable time, hoping to visit Ceylon).
  • 641 A.D., perhaps at the capital of Pulakesin II (who was dethroned in 648), supposed by Dr. Fleet to have been Nasik at that time.
  • 642 A.D., in the Po-fa-to country, probably Jamu in the south of modern Kasmir State, where he stopped for two months Yuan-Chuang was at Nalanda at the beginning of the first month’, equivalent to the end of January, 643.
  • 643 A.D., at Pi-lo-shan-na, probably Bilsar in the Ita (Etah) District of the United Provinces, where he halted for two months. The early months of 643 were spent in attendance on king Harsha Siladitya; whom he quitted apparently in April, and he must have reached the Indus about the beginning of 644.
  • 644 A.D., perhaps at Khotan, somewhat later than the normal time. Yuan-Chuang spent seven or eight months at Khotan, awaiting his sovereign’s permission to return, and, as he reached Ch’ang-an in the spring of 645 (April), he must have arrived at Khotan in September 644. Probably he had crossed the Hindu Kush early in July.
  • 645 A.D. Yuan-Chuang had been where no other had ever been, he had seen and heard what no other had ever seen and heard. Alone he had crossed trackless wastes tenanted only by fierce ghost-demons. Bravely he had climbed fabled mountains high beyond conjecture, ragged and barren, ever chilled by an icy wind and cold with eternal snow. He had been to the edge of the world and had seen where all things end. Now he was safely back to his native land, and with so great a quantity of precious treasures. There were 657 sacred books of Buddhism, some of which were full of mystical charms able to put to flight the invisible powers of mischief. All these books were in strange Indian language and writing and were made of trimmed leaves of palm or birch-bark strung together in layers. We owe many thanks to this brave pilgrim for rescuing and preserving these Buddhist texts.

    The 608 out of 657 texts as classified by school or Buddhist vehicle:

    • Mahayana — sutras: 224
    • Mahayana — shastras: 192
    • Sthavira — sutras, shastras and Vinaya: 14
    • Mahasamghika — sutras, shastras and Vinaya: 15
    • Mahisasaka — sutras, shastras and Vinaya: 22
    • Sammatiya — sutras, shastras and Vinaya: 15
    • Kasyapiya — sutras, shastras and Vinaya: 17
    • Dharmaguptaka — sutras, Vinaya, and Shastras: 42
    • Sarvastivada — sutras, Vinaya, and Shastras: 67

    The 49 out of 657 texts that were not specified by school:

    • Yin-lun — (Logic = Treatises on the science of Inference): 36
    • Sheng-lun — (Etymological treatises): 13

    Section 2 — Classification of the schools and vehicles and the number of monasteries and monks

    The account of Yuan-Chuang includes information for each region that he visited, concerning the general classification of the Buddhist vehicle (Hinayana or Mahayana) or particular school they belonged to, how many active monasteries existed, and how many monks were living in these monasteries. In some cases, no information was given for either the number of monasteries and/or the number of monks. In other cases, no Buddhist vehicle nor a Buddhist school is mentioned; these are categorized under section 2.9 ‘no vehicle nor school mentioned.’

      2.1. Sthaviravada

    • Number of regions: 2
    • Major strongholds according to number of monasteries and monks: Dravida (Capital of Kancipura)
    • Region names: Dravida (Capital of Kancipura), Samatata (Jessore)
    • Total number of monasteries: 130
    • Total number of monks: 12,000

    2.2. Mahayanist-(of the) Sthavira

    • Number of regions: 4
    • Major strongholds according to number of monasteries and monks: Surastra (Surat)
    • Region names: Magadha — Mahabodhi Sangharama, Broach (Bharukaccha), Kalinga (South-west of Ganjam), Surastra (Surat)
    • Total number of monasteries: 71
    • Total number of monks: 4,800

    See Section 3 for more details on this classification.

    2.3. Mahasamghika (including Saila sub-sects)

    • Number of regions: 3
    • Major strongholds according to number of monasteries and monks: Dhanakataka (Amaravati)
    • Region names: Andarab (An-ta-lo-fo), Dhanakataka (Amaravati), Kashmir (4)
    • Total number of monasteries: 24
    • Total number of monks: 1,130

    2.4. Sarvastivada

    • Number of regions: 7
    • Major strongholds according to number of monasteries and monks: Irana (2)
    • Region names: Ayamukha (2), Gurjjara, Irana (2), Magadha — Kapota Vihara, Matipur (1), Navadevakula, Tamasavana
    • Total number of monasteries: 18
    • Total number of monks: 2,900

    2.5. Sammatiya

    • Number of regions: 18
    • Major strongholds according to number of monasteries and monks: Adhyavakila (A-tien-p’o-chin-lo), Malava, Sindh — Cutch province
    • Region names: Ahichatra, Anandapura, Avantaka (A-fan-t’u) (Middle Sindh), Adhyavakila (A-tien-p’o-chin-lo), Ayamukha (1), Irana (1), Kapilavastu, Kama Suvarna (1), Kapitha (Sankasya) (1), Kapitha (Sankasya) (2), Malava, Nagar Parkar (Pi-to-shih-lo), Sravasti, Sindh — Cutch province, Valabhi, Varanasi, Vaisali, Visoka
    • Total number of monasteries: 823
    • Total number of monks: 106,040

    See Section 5 for more details on this classification.

    2.6. Hinayanists (with no particular school mentioned)

    • Number of regions: 12
    • Major strongholds according to number of monasteries and monks: Srughna, Yuddhapati (Ghazipur)
    • Region names: Champa, Govisana, Kausambi, Kullu, Matipur (2), Paryarta (Bairat), Prayaga, Pushkaravati (Peshawar), Sakala (2), Srughna, Sthanesvara, Yuddhapati (Ghazipur)
    • Total number of monasteries: 63
    • Total number of monks: 3,680

    2.7. Mahayanists (with no particular school mentioned)

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@reddust,
Some of these histories I have never learnt before! Very interesting and I feel amazed how did you find all those details! Great work my dear friend!

Cheers~

hope you are always healthy my friend ,,
I just came home from the garden to help my husband plant pepeya ,,
in Islam a lot of schools, in Indonesia alone special schools that teach the science of tasauf called Suluk and tariqat, while those who teach the science of religion in general called Dayah.
in Indonesia there are many dayah or more modern named pasentren cottage, but there is a difference between dayah and pesantren, dayah special teach religious knowledge, while pesantren taught science of religion and general science

@steemitnatural, what a wonderful way to spend the day, working in your garden. That's the closets I can come to imagining heaven.

I am gardening also for a little solitude, so help me meditate at night ,, I am glad you support it

in the science of tasauf there is a teaching called the teachings wahdatul wujud, followers in the third century hijriah more and more, so many scholars who make the book for rejecting wahdatul wujud,
in Aceh itself understood wahdatul wujud growing rapidly during the reign of Sultan Iskandar Muda. This adherents are then opposed all-out by Nuruddin Ar Raniry, finally this understanding was officially banned at that time, but now that understand is still scattered in Aceh

Rabi’ah alAdawiyah, a female Sufi in the 9th century wrote: “My Love, I worship Thee neither out of fear for Thy hell nor out of a desire for Thy heaven, but only for my love to Thee!” This is how I felt about God since I was a small child.

Many Islamic researchers have noticed that Islam was easily accepted by Indonesian because the tasawuf nuances it brought in spreading its teachings.

it is true that rabiah adawiyah is indeed an example of a Sufi woman

@reddust, Unfortunately I couldn't attend your last mindfulness post. However finally I come back after recovered my steemit account. (Yesterday my account was hacked)
I never heard about Yuan-Chuang monk's history before and now fully updated through this blog. China had also biggest Buddhism platform those days and also currently having there. I need to learn more about these seven no of sections. Increase my passion for search Yuan-Chuang's story. Thanks for sharing. Triple gem bless you.

@madushanka, I am sorry you lost your account, I wondered where you went but I didn't have the time to research. I've been absent from Steemit but will be back full time the end of this month. China's dedicated Monks saved many teachings that would of been lost to the dust of time.

india should leave Hinduism and start following buddhism which is founded by our india Buddha and show world truth .indias are only saying Lord Buddha was born in india everywhere but not accepting his teachings although Buddhism is second largest religion of india we should make it national religion india should be Buddhist country .Walk in the path of Buddha and be Buddhist

I think the way Buddha thought people should have the freedom to practice the religion of their choice in peace, Do No Harm.

The name given to the vast and diverse groups of people in India is a recent construct that covers 100s of different Gods and deities and India was made up of thousands of small and large kingdoms and cultures. The state of Nepal, which didn't exist at the time Buddha was born claims the small town on its border with Northern India called Lumbini is Gautama Buddha's birthplace.

Buddha was said to have been born in the gardens of Lumbini. At that time the area was a conglomerate of clans which were organized as a republic. Buddha was born during a time of conflict, warring clans and peaceful clans that formed alliances with each other. Buddha's father was the warrior king (kshatriya varna) of the Shakya clan which was conquered by a neighboring clan after Gautama became Buddha.

Time to push back the Buddha's birth date a century or so? Archaeologists may have uncovered evidence of the oldest Buddhist shrine yet discovered, dating to around 550 B.C.,

The word Hindu is derived from the Sanskrit word Sindhu which is the local name for the Indus River that flows through the north-western part of the Indian subcontinent. Sindhu also means sea. The word Hindu or Indu was used by Greeks to denote the country and people living beyond the Indus river.,


The Shakya Clan in India: A Rediscovered Heritage,

Family of Gautama Buddha

The division of northern India into republics and kingdoms continued into the time of Shakyamuni Buddha (566–485 BCE). The major ones were the Vrji Republic, with public assemblies and democratic institutions, and the autocratic kingdoms of Kosala and Magadha. Both types of state, however, functioned within the ritual structure of Brahmanism. This is because Brahmanism described the duties of a ruler, rather than his powers and form of government. Buddha was born in Shakya, a former republic incorporated into the Kingdom of Kosala, and taught in both Kosala and Maghadha, as well as in the Vrji Republic.

Well good to know and read something new.

The history of Buddhism spans from the 5th century BCE to the present. Buddhism arose in the eastern part of Ancient India, in and around the ancient Kingdom of Magadha (now in Bihar, India), and is based on the teachings of Siddhārtha Gautama. This makes it one of the oldest religions practiced today , back then there was nothing called Nepal, buddha was an Indian prince, Indian Emperor ASHOKA spread Buddhism in most part of south and south east Asia . all the butt hurt Nepali go google it and another thing, get a life, India is the land of buddhism and not Nepal, ask any Buddha teacher from Tibet to Burma and Japan

Buddhism is 96% Hinduism except the idol worship of devis, devtas part. All Non-Abrahmic religions have their roots in hinduism. Btw, Vedas opine against idol worship because GOD is one with no form/shape. But, we do it just because it gives a livelihood and patronage to artists, craftsmen AND Its initially easier to concentrate on a fixed imaginary shape than a formless God.

Buddhism arose in protest against the power and corruption of Brahmanism and a creator God or one rules beings like Brahmaa. Buddha said he found an old path that had been lost long ago, a Buddha finds what has been lost and shares it with others who can hear. Buddhism, as a new philosophical way of life, emerges as a counter-movement against ethical and metaphysical doctrines of Brahmanism. Buddhism being a naastika completely rejects the authority of the Vedas and disproving the Brahmaa as the lord of all creatures. This epistemologically entails denouncing the practice of sacrifice as nonsensical and immoral in terms of ethics. According to the Buddha, the Brahmanical claim that the Vedas, created by Brahmaa for protection of the moral law,[1] are Sruti, [2] divine revelations and the final authority each in every thing is untenable. The Buddha has indirectly rejected this claim arguing that if no teachers of the Vedic tradition have had vision of Brahmaa, the so-called creator of the Vedas and this universe, the talk of Brahmaa is a blind talk, just as when a string of blind men clinging to one another, neither can the foremost see, nor can the middle see, nor can the hindmost see.[3] In the Caanki Sutta of the Majjhima Nikaaya [4] the Buddha again refutes the authority of the Vedas, the ancient scriptural statements (poraa.nam mantapadam) as true while others are false, saying that because no braahma.nas so far have attained personally direct knowledge of the truth of their statement, such a claim on authority of the Vedas as truth is just a groundless faith with no substance whatsoever (ghoso yeva kho eso lokasmii), or a blind tradition (andhave.nu).[5] The Buddha goes further rejecting the claim declaring that this falsity is not merely based on faith (payiruupaasanti) but also based on the other four grounds, viz., inclination, report, consideration of reasons and reflection on and approval of an opinion.

For those who can't hear the teachings of a Buddha, that's okay, "Be Happy!"

Buddha is the main focus in many temples of Mahayana Buddhism. Amitabha (aka Amida) is the main focus in many Japanese schools, but this is much less common in other areas. It's also worth noting that many Japanese schools have deviated in very significant ways from mainstream Buddhism and some are rejected altogether. Tibetan (one type of Vajrayana) Buddhism is a mix of Buddhism and Bon, the indigenous religion of that region. Buddhism has been persecuted and shunned in India due to it clashing with the caste system (and therefore threatening the amount of power and control some groups have), and this was a big factor in Buddhism's decline in India.

@shishiristi, My Tibetan teachers, I practice Chod and Dzogchen told me that Bon was/is a separate religion but incorporated many of Buddha's teachings and principles. I was told Bon is a mix of indigenous religions and beliefs of Tibet and Buddhism. However, scholars and archeologist have different arguments.
Bon was the pre-Buddhist religion of Tibet, its central figure a king with sacred powers;
Bon was a form of Buddhism that developed in western Tibet at least as early as the period in which Buddhism was introduced into Tibet, and was similar in many respects to orthodox Buddhism;
Bon, so-called, was not a religion in its own right, but the sum of all the indigenous beliefs, cults of local gods, popular rites, etc., that were once prevalent across Tibet.

I don't have a bone in the arguments, but how religions form and dissolve is interesting to me!

It is amazing everything he did and the time he spent his trip ... This religion surprises me every time. All this journey of so many years to seek information

Yuan-Chuang shows real dedication to learn and explore. I can only imagine in a limited way how Young-Chiamgs passion for Buddha's teachings lead him on a life-changing journey and influenced millions of people and how dangerous his quest for knowledge and wisdom was @denissemata.

with all of the photos I sense beauty and balance in their architecture. This would be a statement of their spirituality. Spiritual balance brings beauty. There is a peaceful tranquility to it as well. Thanks @reddust.

Thank you @enjoywithtroy, I would love to visit all of them someday. There is a lot of math involved in the layout of Buddhist temples and art and also what direction the temple is situated. It's all about the flow of energy, I've read most old religious buildings in all religions have a mathematical formula to help raise spiritual energy in their places of worship.

I'm very pleased to know the great Buddhist monk Yuan-Chuang. I appreciate his great mission as he came to India from China to spread the knowledge of Buddha. I love your great series about "The Early Schools of Indian Buddhism Series". I learn a lot how the Buddhist monk spread the knowledge of Buddha worldwide. Please continue the great series and eagerly waiting for the next episodes.

@msena, I've been reading more about Yuan-Chuang, I hadn't heard of this monk specifically and I am having fun reading about his adventures.

The one I was most wonder about was the school. You are very nice. @reddust I was curious about the connection with the Hinayanists experience.
The aim of the Hinayanists is to reach the target nirvan, and the goal of Mahayanists is to reach the degree of nostalgia which expresses absolute wisdom and universal love.

@turkishcrew, yes the Hinayanists monastic goal is to become an arahant, lay followers gather merit for an auspicious rebirth through caring and feeding the monastic community and the Mayanist goal is to either take birth in the Buddha-fields I talk about in my Bodhisattva Bhumis series and both monastics and lay followers practice the virtues called the paramitas with the aspiration to become a Bodhisattva and eventually a Buddha who helps people learn to free themselves from their negative conditioning to they too can attain freedom from suffering and the rounds of rebirth..

It is amazing everything he did and the time he spent his trip ... This religion surprises me every time. All this journey of so many years to seek information.super instruction

india is not land of buddha may be in other words hindu..... study the ancient history of lord buddha properly before you create the video.he was born in lumbini ,kapilvastu place of nepal .he got enlightenment in india in ancient time.don't spread the false rumors about the lord buddha......if you really follow his path...

@mrashik, I don't understand your point.

I not know many about indian buddhism but i really appericiate

Beautiful I like it

Buena información que nos presenta en este post que tenga un feliz día .

A very long blogs need too much study and a good knowledge about that topic which you have sir great post sir @reddust

Wow this is amazing thank for sharing. This post is really intriguing!

thanks for give us the latest information

since the year before Christ is Buddhism?

it's really a great quote

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Once again I am floored by the amount of information in this post. As you have told us that your hubby is your researcher but I can imagine the amount of effort you guys put in collecting all this together.

I am a bit ashamed to admit that I had never heard of Yuan-Chuang before, or if I had then I do cannot recollect now. Its a bit of double whammy knowing that I have already lived and been to some of the places that are mentioned in his journey. I am a bit of a history nerd, so I usually have a bit of a clue about subcontinent's history...... this time though, nothing.

There are so many things in this post that I would like to talk more about (particularly his travels) but there were two things that I could especially understand from other references that I have previously come across.

First one: Are the 36 texts on Logic (Yin-Lun). I have found that in theological studies, the sections dedicated to logic is an integral part of studies no matter the religion or faith. To the most extent this always seemed a bit contradictory to me and yet it really wasn't the case. Back in the East, they have their own philosophy about reasoning and inference while most of us are traditionally exposed to references in the matter which are derived from the ancient Greece. I couldn't be sure but this could have been the source of confusion for me.

Second is the mention of monks of both vehicles in section 4. I really liked the coexistence of both Hinayana and Mahayana together under one roof. Of course, as you mention that this might have been possible to some extent due to Mahayanist monks having no particular monastic code but nevertheless the doctrinal differences would have generated some friction. Yet the idea of their coexistence seemed very 'India like' :-)

Another good article on Buddhism schools series in india . There are many places and temples of buddhism in india . Because Buddhism started from india .

I love and study Indian culture a long time and I was very happy to have found your blog. I will read all the excellent posts on this topic. Thank you.

its great post!!

 6 years ago  Reveal Comment

My Husband and I wrote several articles on the Bodhisattva Bhumis, and I can understand the practice up to the 6th or 7th level of attainments. I was lost by the 8th Bhumi; the Bodhisattva cannot regress after this Bhumi. Check the series out @hafez! I was given the Bodhisattva vow by my first teacher a Korean Monk years ago, and I still follow the paramitas as best I can. The Ten Perfections

The reason I started practice was that Buddha promised anyone could attain freedom from self-caused suffering. I found the practices I was given helped me let go of negative conditioning, I am happy with the results so far, but I cannot imagine becoming a Bodhisattva or Buddha, but I hold the ideal close to my heart @hafez.