BL305 Pāli Nikāya and Chinese Āgama

The course will begin with a broad content-analysis of the five Nikāyas and the four Chinese Āgamas.
Reading Schedule First Week:

Course Plan

1. Introduction to Pāli Nikāyas
2. Introduction to Chinese Āgamas
3. Dīgha Nikāya
4. Ekottarika Āgama
5. Majjhima Nikāya and Madhyama Āgama i
6. Majjhima Nikāya and Madhyama Āgama ii
7. Majjhima Nikāya and Madhyama Āgama iii
8. Saṃyutta Nikāya and Sayukta Āgama i
9. Saṃyutta Nikāya and Sayukta Āgama ii
10. Saṃyutta Nikāya and Sayukta Āgama iii
11. Saṃyutta Nikāya and Sayukta Āgama iv
12. Saṃyutta Nikāya and Sayukta Āgama v
13. Aṅguttara Nikāya and Ekottarik Āgama
14. Students presentation
15. Review

Main Texts

• Bhikkhu Bodhi, trans. The Connected Discourses of the Buddha: a new translation of the Saṃyutta Nikāya. Somerville: Wisdom Publications, 2000. e-book.
• Bhikkhu Ñāṇamoli and Bhikkhu Bodhi, trans. The middle length discourses of the Buddha: a new translation of the Majjhima Nikāya. Somerville: Wisdom Publications, 1995. e-book.
• Walshe, Maurice, trans. The long discourses of the Buddha: a translation of the Dīgha Nikāya. Somerville: Wisdom Publications, 1995. e-book

• Other References

• Akanuma, Chizen. The Comparative Catalogue of Chinese Āgamas & Pāli Nikāyas. Delhi: Sri Satguru, 1990.
• Bhikkhu Analayo. A Comparative Study of the Majjhima-nikāya. (2 vols.) Taipei: Dharma Drum Publishing Corporation, 2011. Print.
• –--. "Reflections on Comparative Āgama Studies". Chung-Hwa Buddhist Journal, 2008, vol. 21 pp. 3–21.
• ---. “Comparative Notes on the Madhyama-āgama.” 《中阿含》比較研究摘要(英文版) 福嚴佛學研究, 2009. pp33-56.
• Bhikshu Thich Minh Chau. The Chinese Madhyama Āgama and the Pāli Majjhima Nikāya. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1991.
• Jayawardhana, Somapala. Handbook of Pali Literature. Colombo: Karunaratne & Sons, Ltd., 1994. (A guide, in dictionary form, through the Pali Canon, with detailed descriptions of the major landmarks in the Canon.)
• Lay, U Ko, ed. Guide to Tipitaka. Delhi: Sri Satguru Publications, 1990. (Outline of the Tipitaka, containing summaries of many important suttas.)
• Nakamura, Hajime. Indian Buddhism. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1987.
• Webb, Russell. ed. An Analysis of the Pali Canon. Kandy: Buddhist Publication Society, 1975. (An indispensable "road map" and outline of the Pali Canon. Contains an excellent index listing suttas by name. )
• 印顺导师《原始佛教圣典之集成》正闻出版社, 1994.
• Taisho Tripiṭaka Catalogue Vol. 1 (昭和法寶總目錄第一卷) pp. 153-195.
• http://agamaresearch.ddbc.edu.tw/research-2
• www.accesstoinsight.org.
• Chinese Agama study in Chinese: http://agama.buddhason.org/index.htm

Assessment of Learning