Studies in the Origins of Buddhism c2.6

c2.6

There has been much controversy over the "correct" interpretation of such points of Buddhist doctrine as Pratīyasamutpāda and Nirvāṇa. Now the ancient canonical texts are themselves not quite agreed on these points, which is intelligible enough since the texts in question are spread over a considerable period of time. The "original gospel" assumed various forms in the course of its development and was soon grown over by them to the point of obscurity. It appears that unless the ancient Buddhist ideas are analysed clearly with reference to their historical or genetic relationship it will hardly be possible to trace firmly their original foundations. This task is attempted in Chapters XI—XIII.