A History of Indian Literature v2.c19.s3.t1.19.1

v2.c19.s3.t1.19.1

[^1) This conclusion is absent in the Satipaṭṭhāna-Sutta of the Majjhimanikāya (No. 10). F. *Heiler*, Die buddhistische Versenkung, 2nd Ed., München. 1923, p. 13, calls this Sutta "the exercise manual of the Buddhist monk." [^2) Cf. R. C. *Childers*, Ind. Ant. 12, 1883, p. 23 ff.; T. W. *Rhys Davids*, Buddhism (SPCK), p. 143 ff., and Mrs. *Rhys Davids*, SBB, Vol. IV, p. 168 ff. [^3) Translated by *Rhys Davids*, SBE, Vol. 11 and SBB, Vol. II, 78 ff., into German by J. *Dutoit*, Leben des Buddha, p. 221 ff., K. E. *Neumann*, München, 1911, R. O. *Franke*, in the Vinayapiṭaka,¹ and partly in the Suttapiṭaka. It is quite comprehensible that the memory of the latter part of the Master's life and of his last speeches was most firmly impressed on the minds of the disciples of Buddha, and that these have been preserved and handed down with loving fidelity. I do not hesitate to see the beginnings of a Buddha biography in the oldest parts of this Sutta, though there are only few passages in the Mahā-Parinibbāna-Sutta which can be regarded as really ancient and original. For, the Sutta is by no means a unified work, but is composed of parts which belong to different ages.