Early Monastic Buddhism v2.c34.s13: XVIII. Doctrines of the Vetulyakas only
Early Monastic Buddhism v2.c34.s13
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XVIII. Doctrines of the Vetulyakas only
v2.c34.s13.1
In the Kathāvatthu, the following doctrines are specially attributed to the Vetulyakas:
v2.c34.s13.2
(i) *Na vattabbaṃ ‘Buddho Bhagavā manussaloke aṭṭhāsi’* This point has been discussed above (p. 75).
v2.c34.s13.3
(ii) *Na vattabbaṃ Buddhassa dinnaṃ mahapphalaṃ hoti* (XVII. 10). As Buddha as a person does not exist, it is meaningless to say that gifts to Buddha produce great merit.
v2.c34.s13.4
(iii) *Na vattabbaṃ “saṃgho dakkhiṇaṃ paṭigaṇhāti”*
(iv) *Na vattabbaṃ “saṃgho dakkhiṇaṃ visodheti”*
(v) *Na vattabbaṃ “saṃgho bhuñjati pivati khādati sāyati”*
(vi) *Na vattabbaṃ “saṃghassa dinnaṃ mahapphalaṃ hoti”* (XVII. 6-9).
v2.c34.s13.5
All the four opinions are of the same import. The question raised here whether Saṅgha is a body of individuals who have attained magga and phala (fruits of sanctification) or Saṅgha is identical with maggaphala. This school holds that Saṅgha does not exist apart from maggaphala and so it is not proper to say that Saṅgha receives gifts, or purifies it, or enjoys it, or a gift made to a Saṅgha is productive of great merits.¹
v2.c34.s13.6
¹ Cf. Milindapañha p. 95f, Kośa, iv. 32, also see L. de La Vallée Poussin’s paper on *La doctrine des refuges* in the *Mélanges chinois et bouddhiques* vol I p 64f
Cites (3)
- Kathāvatthu — Moggaliputta Tissa, Pāli
- Milindapañha — Pāli
- Abhidharmakośa — Vasubandhu, Sanskrit