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**Mynameishappy** · 08-13-2011, 12:44 AM

The words of the teachings were passed down and memorized by rote by folks who had vested interest in getting them right and nothing else to do. This isn't the game of chinese whispers you would like to make it out to be.

There are hints that the process didn't always go smoothly, though. The monk Purāna politely rejected the First Council's "approved version" of the teachings, saying that he preferred to go by what he himself had heard and learnt from the Buddha.

And that was right after the Buddha's paranibbana -- not to speak of centuries later when the suttas were actually written down!

Friend Purāna,” the elders said to him, “the Teaching and Discipline have been recited together by the elder monks. Please submit yourself to this recitation.”

“Friends,” he replied, “the Teaching and Discipline are well-recited by the elders. But in the way I have heard them in the Exalted One’s presence, in the way that I have received them in his presence, thus will I bear it in mind.

08-13-2011, 12:44 AM	#23
Mynameishappy Join Date Nov 2005 Posts 446 Senior Member	The words of the teachings were passed down and memorized by rote by folks who had vested interest in getting them right and nothing else to do. This isn't the game of chinese whispers you would like to make it out to be. There are hints that the process didn't always go smoothly, though. The monk Purāna politely rejected the First Council's "approved version" of the teachings, saying that he preferred to go by what he himself had heard and learnt from the Buddha. And that was right after the Buddha's paranibbana -- not to speak of centuries later when the suttas were actually written down! Friend Purāna,” the elders said to him, “the Teaching and Discipline have been recited together by the elder monks. Please submit yourself to this recitation.” “Friends,” he replied, “the Teaching and Discipline are well-recited by the elders. But in the way I have heard them in the Exalted One’s presence, in the way that I have received them in his presence, thus will I bear it in mind.
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