1) Buddhaghosa wrote Samantapasadika, a commentary on the five texts of the Vinaya-pitaka, at the request of Thera Buddhasiri.
2) The commentary provides important details about how the Vinaya was included in the Buddhist canon and describes various aspects discussed in the Vinaya such as the causes of the first Buddhist council and classifications of Vinaya, Sutta, and Abhidhamma.
3) Samantapasadika also includes accounts of history in India and descriptions of disciples of the Buddha and types of vehicles and slaves.
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Original Title
The importance of Samantapasadika as the Vinaya commentary.doc
1) Buddhaghosa wrote Samantapasadika, a commentary on the five texts of the Vinaya-pitaka, at the request of Thera Buddhasiri.
2) The commentary provides important details about how the Vinaya was included in the Buddhist canon and describes various aspects discussed in the Vinaya such as the causes of the first Buddhist council and classifications of Vinaya, Sutta, and Abhidhamma.
3) Samantapasadika also includes accounts of history in India and descriptions of disciples of the Buddha and types of vehicles and slaves.
1) Buddhaghosa wrote Samantapasadika, a commentary on the five texts of the Vinaya-pitaka, at the request of Thera Buddhasiri.
2) The commentary provides important details about how the Vinaya was included in the Buddhist canon and describes various aspects discussed in the Vinaya such as the causes of the first Buddhist council and classifications of Vinaya, Sutta, and Abhidhamma.
3) Samantapasadika also includes accounts of history in India and descriptions of disciples of the Buddha and types of vehicles and slaves.
The importance of Samantapasadika as the Vinaya commentary
Buddhaghosa wrote Samanta-pasadika which is a commentary on the five texts of
Vinaya-pitaka. The author wrote this at the request of Thera Buddhasiri. This was his first commentary on a canonical text. Since Vinaya was the foundation of Buddhist faith and for this reason he wrote a commentary on Vinaya first and not Dhamma. He wrote it in 429 A.D. t that time! the ruling king was Mahanama in Sri "anka. The contents of Samantapasadika are important #ecause it includes how the Vinaya got included in the a!i "anon. The importance of the contents of Samantapasadika can #e listed as follows$ %. The causes that led to the holding of # st Buddhist &ouncil. '. Selection of mem#er for the &ouncil (. The )mportance of preser*ing a place for Ananda thera. +. The place where the council was held. ,. -hat Ananda did at the $andha-kuti after the Buddha.s passing away. /. Description of #% monasteries 0. Building of a #eautiful panda! for the # st &ouncil 1. The recita! of the first and the !ast words of the Buddha 2. &lassification of Vinaya! Sutta and #hdhamma %3. How Vinaya was gradually handed o*er to the & rd &ouncil %%. The life of Mo''a!i Brahmana %'. n account of Awoka %(. 4issionaries sent #y Awoka to *arious territories %+. discussion of (hanas trances %,. description of Va))i-putaka %/. Various kinds of pre'nancy %0. n account of Vaisa!i %1. )mportance of the port Bharu-kaccha %2. n account of ssem#ly hall '3. full discussion on topics such as *ammatthana sati! Samadhi! cita! vibbana! indriya! four para)ika-dhammas etc. Samantapasadika gi*es a vivid description a#out *arious aspects under the a#o*e topics. Samantapasadika is freed from any e!a+orated tan'!e of simi!es and metaphors! and is written in an easy language. Samantapasadika also mentions a#out the history of )ndia. Buddhaghosa! in the Samantapasadika! gi*es an account of Bhadda-va''iyas. They were supposed to #e a group with #eautiful +odies and with *ery good mind. )t also descri#es 4 kinds of s!aves. They are as follows$ - sla*es #orn in such family - one purchased for the purpose of sla*ery - one who originally #elong to enemy! when the enemy is defeated and captured! they are engaged as sla*es - one according to his own will! who took the life of s!avery )t also descri#es *arious types of *ehicles as porta+!e +eds, chariots and carts. Samantapasadika also includes description a#out *arious disciples of the Buddha! #oth Theras and Theris. Therefore we can come to a conclusion #y saying that this Vinaya text is *ery informative.