DiscussWorldIssues - Socio-Economic Religion and Political Uncensored Debate - View Single Post - Debating origins of Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism

**Brewpralgar** · 08-26-2010, 07:34 PM

Sure, before they were written down they were faithfully passed on by monks.

The Theravadans in Burma (and l think Sri Lanka) recite the whole of the Abhidhamma from memory,this is done in relays,when the monk in front of you wants to rest you take over,(the point here is that they don't have set pieces that they have memorised) so each monk needs to know the whole Abhidhamma.
I don't know how often this feat is carried out.

08-26-2010, 07:34 PM	#12
Brewpralgar Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 478 Senior Member	Sure, before they were written down they were faithfully passed on by monks. The Theravadans in Burma (and l think Sri Lanka) recite the whole of the Abhidhamma from memory,this is done in relays,when the monk in front of you wants to rest you take over,(the point here is that they don't have set pieces that they have memorised) so each monk needs to know the whole Abhidhamma. I don't know how often this feat is carried out.
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