A History of Indian Literature v2.c19.s2.3

v2.c19.s2.3

³ Kern, Manual, p. 2, and *La Vallée Poussin*, Buddhisme, E'tudes et Matériaux, p. 27, regard the Vinayapiṭaka as earlier. In the opinion of R. Otto *Franke* (JPTS 1908, pp. 8 ff., 68 ff., 74) the Mahāvagga and Cullavagga of the Vinayapiṭaka would be later than the Dīghanikāya. K. E. *Neumann* (Prefaces to Vols. I and III of the "Reden Gotamo Buddhos") believes that "the Vinayapiṭaka and later the Abhidhammapiṭaka gradually partly became eliminated, and partly were further developed, out of the Suttapiṭaka." In support of this view, we could adduce the fact that some of the Suttas deal with Vinaya, and some resemble the texts of the Abhidhamma very closely both in form and contents. However, as the Vinayapiṭaka and the Suttapiṭaka have some texts in common, I think it likely that the final compilation of these two took place at about the same time.