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THE GOTAMA BUDDHA SASANA is an online pre-sectarian Buddhist Group striving to spread the Teachings of the Buddha in its original form as the Dhamma-Vinaya during the time of the Gotama Savaka Sangha as instructed by the historical Gotama Buddha.

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“Buddhism is most famous today for everything it originally never taught.”

Dr. A.K. Coomaraswamy

WHAT IS ORIGINAL BUDDHISM?
 
Original Buddhism is a revival movement to return the teachings of the Buddha to its purest form possible during its pre-sectarian era, by removing later teachings, cultural influences, traditions, superstitions etc.

The Buddha-Sasana (Teachings Of The Buddha) consists of the Dhamma (in the form of the Sutta) and the Vinaya (Disciplinary Rules). The objective of the Buddha is Liberation (Nibbana) from the endless Cycle of Rebirth (Samsara). The Buddha himself said “I teach dukkha and the cessation of dukkha” (from MN 22 and SN 22.86).

The Dhamma is not based on blind faith. It is based on critical thinking, introspection & reasonable confidence though personal experience. The Dhamma is for you to understand reality, and not to escape from reality.

The Buddha advocated goodwill (metta), compassion (karuna) & non-violence (ahimsa), and thus any form of violence does not represent the Buddha's teaching.

The Buddha's teaching is universal, and applies to all sentient beings. It is not limited to any geographical location, race or gender. It is sad that schools of "Buddhism" have incorporated cultural beliefs and practices to be part of their techings when the Buddha did not teach them.

The Buddha did not teach the Dhamma to gain followers. He was like a good doctor offering good medicine, and patients who needed help came to him. People converted by their own free-will due to the efficacy of the Dhamma, and not through being impressed by magic or miracles.

The Buddha taught that we are responsible for our own actions, and we shall bear the consequences of our actions. We should not rely on any deity or saviour to "cleanse our sins". The idea of "forgiveness from a higher being" or "finding a scapegoat" conditions people into being irresponsible for their own actions. However, the Dhamma does not condemn someone to hell just because of moments of unwholesome actions in his lifetime, or just for being a non-believer. It is true that one has to suffer the consequences, but there is not "eternal hell". Once the "debt" has been paid off, the person can once again be reborn in the higher realms.

Throughout the 45 years of teaching the Dhamma, the Buddha focused on the Dhamma and not himself. He taught the Dhamma to end Dukkha, not start a new religion or to become a cult leader. The Buddha did not teach any form of idol-worship. In fact, "Buddha" statues first appeared over 500 years after the Buddha's passing, around the same time of the rise of Christianity. The Buddha was also against the misuse of psychic powers, usage of spells and mantra, attachment to ceremonial rites & rituals, superstitions, and also self-mortification. (It is ironic that "Buddhists" started "praying" to the statues when the Buddha was against the God-idea, guru-worship, attachment to ceremonial rites & rituals, nama-rupa, and the concept of praying.)

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Historical Development Of Buddhism

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THE BUDDHA-VACANA IS THE DHAMMA-VINAYA, NOT THE TIPITAKA

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From the time of the Buddha till the Second Buddhist Council, the teachings of the Buddha was in the form of the Dhamma-Vinaya.

Dhamma, as in the collection of Sutta, and Vinaya being the Patimokkha collection of monastic major rules (related to the spiritual training) & minor rules (related to societal behaviour).

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The Tipitaka/Tripitaka only came into existence after the Third Buddhist Council, with the addition of later additions to the Khuddaka Nikaya, and the Abhidhamma Pitaka, thus forming the 3 Pitaka (Tipitaka, meaning "3 Baskets" of leaves).

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WHICH ARE THE EARLIEST SCRIPTURES?

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Pali Theravada Early Buddhist Texts:

• Digha Nikaya

• Majjhima Nikaya

• Anguttara Nikaya

• Samyutta Nikaya

• The following books from the Khuddaka Nikaya: Dhammapada, Udana, Itivuttaka, Sutta Nipata, Theragatha, and Therigatha; and the Patimokkha from the Vinaya.

Chinese Mahayana Agama (pre-cursor parallels to the Pali EBTs):

• Dirgha-Agama (From the Dharmaguptaka school)

• Madhyama-Agama (From the Sarvastivada school)

• Samyukta-Agama (From the Sarvastivada school)

• Ekottara-Agama (From the Mahasamghika school)

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WHICH ARE NOT PART OF THE EARLIEST SCRIPTURES?

• Later sectarian sutta/sutra

• Later additions to the Khuddaka Nikaya

• Commentaries

• Abhidhamma/Abhidharma Pitaka

• Visuddhimagga

• Jataka

• Pureland sutras

• Japanese/Korean "Buddhist" scriptures

• Tibetan "Buddhist" scriptures

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