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Early Buddhism

Below you'll find resources related to early Buddhism. By early Buddhism, I mean the teachings of the Buddha as recorded in the Sutta Pitaka and parallel texts – prior to the doctrinal developments of later traditions, including Theravada. That said, even within the Sutta Pitaka, some texts are likely later additions.

Image by Rohit Dey

Sutta Pitaka - The Numerical Discourses of the Buddha, The Book of The Fours, sutta 180 (AN 4.180):

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"Here, monks, a monk might say: ‘In the presence of the Blessed One [Buddha] I heard this; in his presence I learned this: 'This is the Dhamma; this is the discipline; this is the Teacher's teaching!' That monk's statement should neither be approved nor rejected. Without approving or rejecting it, you should thoroughly learn those words and phrases and then check for them in the discourses [sutta] and seek them in the discipline [vinaya]. If, when you check for them in the discourses and seek them in the discipline, (you find that) they are not included among the discourses and are not to be seen in the discipline, you should draw the conclusion: ‘Surely, this is not the word of the Blessed One, the Arahant, the Perfectly Enlightened One. It has been badly learned by this monk.’ Thus you should discard it."​​​​

How Early Buddhism Differs From Theravada
(Bhikkhu Sujato)

What is Early Buddhism?
(Ven. Ariyadhammika)

Sutta Pitaka

Scholarly Works

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