An Example for the Importance of the ancient Manuscripts for Solving Crucial Problems appeared in Buddhist Literature

Abstract

The Manuscripts can evidently be identified as a significant effort to preserve the particular philosophical and ancestral information in the elementary period of human civilization. In the Buddhist context, manuscripts are identified as historical heritage of Buddhism which continued in recitation by the Buddhist disciples. Here, it concerns on a problematic point appeared in the Pāli Text Society (PTS) Tripitaka and the way that problem was come right with the help of Preserved Buddhist manuscripts. According to the second edition of Pāli Text Society Tripitaka book of numerical discourses or AnguttaraNikāya, the ChatukkaNipāta is consisted a discourse by name of DutiyaggaSutta. Mrs. Rhys Davids was the president of the PTS at the time of second edition. According to her comment on the second edition of ChatukkhaNipāta in AnguttaraNikāya,which has been amended a word was appeared as ‘Bhavañga’ in the first edition of PTS ChatukkaNipātaPathamañgasutta and the ‘Bhavagga’ has replaced instead of ‘Bhavañga’ based on the commentary reading ofDutiyañgasutta. However, the first edition of PTS ChathukkaNipāta has been amended with the help of a number of Manuscripts which have originally been written in Sinhalese and Burmese characters. Therefore, the first edition of PTS ChatukkaNipāta in AnguttaraNikāyais consisted the term ‘Bhavañga’ in DutiyaggaSutta which was edited by Rev. Richard Morris. In such a context, the problem cannot simply be skipped. Therefore, this research is an attempt to point out an example to solve problems with the help of manuscripts. On the other hand, it will be given rise to understand the paramount importance of the manuscripts to settle down crucial problems appeared in the Buddhist Literature.