The Cambridge History of India, Vol. I: Ancient India v1.c19.s9.20

v1.c19.s9.20

There are also entire episodes containing names of persons and places and accounts of events—episodes which recur in identical terms in two or more of the Nikāyas. About two-thirds of the *Mahā-parinibbāna Suttanta* consists of such *recurring episodes* or stock passages¹. This will help to show the manner in which the books were built up.