Mahayana Mahaparinirvana Sutra

The Nirvana Sutra (also: mahaparinirvana Sūtra ;大 般 涅槃 経, Japanese: Daihatsu Nehan - kyō; Chinese: Da Bān niepan Jing; Tibetan: Myang ' kyi mdo that ) is one of the most important Mahāyāna texts. It is not to be confused with the Mahaparinibbana Discourse known from the Pali Canon. To distinguish the former is with its Sanskrit title, the latter called in Pali.

The Mahaparinirvana Sutra is an important and extensive writing, of which it is, it contained " Buddha overall summary " of his teaching. The main emphasis is on the explanation of the eternal presence of the Buddha and the eternal, pure " Buddha Nature " (Buddha - dhatu, also Tathagatagarbha, di "Buddha - Embryo " / " Buddha - essence "), which is common to all living beings. Recognizing the same leads to liberation from all suffering and the final entrance into the joyous state of nirvana. recognition of the Buddha - nature is prevented by the Kleshas ( request [ greed ], hatred, pride, infatuation ).

Versions

The various traditional versions interpret the Buddha - nature and the ways to realize them differently. Particularly popular was the Sutra in China between the 5th and 7th centuries. There was a school, the Nieh - p'an -tsung ( jp.: Nehanshū ), one of the '13 schools ', which went up in the Tien- tai, as the Mahaparinirvana Sutra next to the Lotus Sutra and the Daiichidoron to a the basic texts of this school was. Later it worked on the development of Zen.

The following ( divergent ) Mahāyāna versions [ fragments ] of the sutra are coming:

From two Chinese translations, which were created shortly before 1, the texts have not survived. 1 and 4 correspond roughly to the first quarter of 2; it is assumed that this text is of Indian origin. In NJ you can find the Hinayana History No. 552 ÜBS. 290-306 of Poh Fah -tsu. The content - samādhi - sūtra similar Caturdāraka was ÜBS. 266-316 of Dharmaraksa Elder and again from Jñānagupta 585-92.

[ Taishō means the same Sino- Japanese canon catalog, NJ older directory Nanjio 's. ]

Japanese tradition

In Japan, the Sutra is, starting with a mention of the northern text ( 2) 722, [(3 ) until 804 ] in the annals detectable. However, the Hosso Gomyo monk is said to have given a lecture to a 788 ( in Nara part of Kōfuku -ji) in Kasuga -dera. Since the 8th century, as well as in China, on the day of the final extinction of the Enlightened ( 15th day of the 2nd month, a day of abstinence ), recited in the commission of Nehan -e, the sutra.