Intro to Buddhism FINAL - Primary Texts

10 Primary texts

1. Kaivalya Upaniṣad

• Author: Anonymous (Upaniṣadic tradition)

• Date of Composition: c. 6th century BCE

• Country / Region: India

• Original Language: Sanskrit

• Associated Tradition: Upaniṣads / Vedic tradition (Vedānta)

• Significance to Buddhism: Represents Brahmanical self-metaphysics that Buddhism rejects.

• Recognition Cues (Specific):

  • Direct claims that ātman is eternal or identical with brahman

  • Liberation through knowing the self, not through ethics or meditation

  • References to renunciation + knowledge, not the Eightfold Path

  • No mention of karma mechanics, nirvāṇa, or no-self

2. Fruits of the Contemplative Life (Sāmaññaphala Sutta)

• Author: Attributed to the Buddha; recited by Ānanda

• Date of Composition: c. 4th–5th century BCE

• Country / Region: India

• Original Language: Pali

• Associated Tradition: Early / Foundational Buddhism

• Significance to Buddhism: Canonical explanation of the Buddhist monastic path.

• Recognition Cues (Specific):

  • Lists of practices in a strict order (ethics → meditation → wisdom)

  • Descriptions of monks abandoning sense pleasures

  • Explicit comparison to other ascetics (often portrayed as inferior)

  • Calm, explanatory dialogue format

3. Path of Purification (Visuddhimagga)

• Author: Buddhaghosa

• Date of Composition: 5th century CE

• Country / Region: Sri Lanka

• Original Language: Pali

• Associated Tradition: Theravāda Buddhism

• Significance to Buddhism: Definitive Theravāda meditation and doctrine manual.

• Recognition Cues (Specific):

  • Extremely technical breakdowns of meditation states

  • Long explanations of mental factors, jhānas, or purification stages

  • No narrative, no dialogue, no parables

  • Instructional, almost textbook-like prose

4. Lotus Sūtra

• Author: Attributed to the Buddha (Mahāyāna authors)

• Date of Composition: 1st–3rd century CE

• Country / Region: India

• Original Language: Sanskrit

• Associated Tradition: Mahāyāna

• Significance to Buddhism: Validates Mahāyāna as the Buddha’s highest teaching.

• Recognition Cues (Specific):

  • Parables explaining hidden meanings of earlier teachings

  • Buddha stating earlier doctrines were skillful means

  • Promises that everyone will become a Buddha

  • References to cosmic time spans or innumerable Buddhas

5. Heart Sūtra

• Author: Attributed to the Buddha (Prajñāpāramitā tradition)

• Date of Composition: c. 2nd century CE

• Country / Region: India / China

• Original Language: Sanskrit / Chinese

• Associated Tradition: Mahāyāna (Perfection of Wisdom)

• Significance to Buddhism: Most condensed expression of emptiness doctrine.

• Recognition Cues (Specific):

  • Phrase “form is emptiness, emptiness is form”

  • Lists of things explicitly said to not exist (no eye, no ear, no suffering)

  • Teaching delivered by Avalokiteśvara

  • Ends with a mantra

6. Verses on the Middle Way (Mūla-madhyamaka-kārikā)

• Author: Nāgārjuna

• Date of Composition: 2nd century CE

• Country / Region: India

• Original Language: Sanskrit

• Associated Tradition: Madhyamaka / Mahāyāna

• Significance to Buddhism: Defines emptiness through logical refutation.

• Recognition Cues (Specific):

  • Short verses arguing against causation or existence

  • Claims things do not arise from self, other, both, or neither

  • No characters, no story, no devotional language

  • Persistent rejection of all metaphysical positions

7. Zhuangzi

• Author: Zhuangzi

• Date of Composition: 3rd century BCE

• Country / Region: China

• Original Language: Classical Chinese

• Associated Tradition: Daoism

• Significance to Buddhism: Shapes Chan’s anti-conceptual style.

• Recognition Cues (Specific):

  • Stories involving animals, craftsmen, or sages

  • Famous dream imagery (e.g., butterfly dream)

  • Claims that distinctions are relative

  • No Buddhist vocabulary at all

The Great Maudgalyāyana Rescues His Mother from Hell

• Author: Anonymous (Chinese Buddhist folk tale)

• Date of Composition: 3rd–4th century CE

• Country / Region: China

• Original Language: Chinese

• Associated Tradition: Popular Chinese Buddhism

• Significance to Buddhism: Aligns Buddhism with Confucian filial piety.

• Recognition Cues (Specific):

  • Mulian / Maudgalyāyana as main character

  • Explicit scene of a mother suffering in hell

  • Graphic punishments (hunger, torment)

  • Resolution through ritual offerings or merit transfer

Platform Sūtra

• Author: Attributed to Huineng; likely Shenhui or disciples

• Date of Composition: 8th century CE

• Country / Region: China

• Original Language: Chinese

• Associated Tradition: Southern School of Chan

• Significance to Buddhism: Establishes sudden enlightenment doctrine.

• Recognition Cues (Specific):

  • Huineng portrayed as illiterate yet enlightened

  • Criticism of gradual practice or textual study

  • Sudden awakening described as immediate realization

  • Explicit lineage disputes

Tannishō

• Author: Yuienbō (recording Shinran)

• Date of Composition: 13th century CE

• Country / Region: Japan

• Original Language: Japanese

• Associated Tradition: Jōdoshin (True Pure Land)

• Significance to Buddhism: Most radical articulation of other-power.

• Recognition Cues (Specific):

  • First-person confessions of moral incapacity

  • Statements that good deeds do not cause salvation

  • Emphasis on faith in Amida alone

  • Explicit rejection of self-powered practice