The Spread of Buddhism

26 bart dessein

by Xuanzang, titled «Yibuzong lun lun» (T.2031); and two attributed to

Paramrtha, titled «Shibabu lun» (T.2032) and «Buzhiyi lun» (T.2033).^50

3.2. The Nature of the Wheel of the Doctrine

The discussion on the nature of the wheel of the doctrine and its  rst

turning in the *Abhidharmamahvibhstra «Apidamo dapiposha lun» starts

with the following quotation from the s tra literature:

The World-honoured One makes the wheel of the doctrine (dharma-

cakra) turn. All ramaas of the world (laukika), brhmaas, gods (deva),

Mra, and Brahm do not possess this ability regarding the wheel of

the doctrine.^51

That a s tra passage is quoted is justi ed as follows: “the scriptural

texts are the basis of this treatise, and what was not explained [in these

s tras], has to be explained now.”^52 What is missing is more precisely

said to be the “de nition of the wheel of the doctrine,”^53 as well as

Bareau 1954, p. 255; Bareau 1955b, p. 145. On the Mahsghika positions, see

T.2031.49.15b27–28; T.2032.49.18b12–13; T.2033.49.20b28. Thesis 3 of Vasumitra;

thesis 3 of *Bhavya (Nikyabhedavibhaga vykhyna); thesis 7 of Vintadeva (Samayabhedopara-

cana cakre nikya bhedopadaranasa graha). See further also ZZ 1–8–3.23b1–16; Masuda 1925,

p. 19; Bareau 1954, pp. 238–239; Bareau 1955b, p. 58; Bareau 1956, pp. 173, 193.

(*) numbering according to Bareau 1954; 1956.

(^50) On the problem of dating the three Chinese versions, see Masuda 1925, pp.
5–6; Lamotte 1958, p. 302; Wang 1994, pp. 171, 175–176. On the problem of the
attribution of the «Shibabu lun» to Paramrtha or Kumrajva, see Masuda 1920,
p. 1; Masuda 1925, pp. 5–6; Demiéville 1925, p. 48 n. 1. 51
T.1545.27.911b13–15. Kimura, Nishi & Sakamoto 1979–1980, vol. 16,
p. 143 n. 3, identify this s tra as the Drghgama. The exact wording of the Drghgama,
T.1.1.9b22–23, is: “Only the Buddha can turn this wheel of the doctrine (dharmacakra)
without superior (anuttara). Of the gods (deva), Mra, akra and Brahm, none can turn
it.” This is also stated in the Dharmaguptakavinaya «Sifen lü», T.1428.22.788b20–22:
“The Tathgata makes the wheel of the doctrine turn. It cannot be set in motion by
the ramaas, brhmaas, Mra, gods such as Mra, gods (deva) and humans (manuya) of
the world.” Also the Catupariats tra 13.9–12 contains a parallel to this section. See
Waldschmidt 1957, pp. 154–157.
(^52) T.1545.27.911b16–17.
(^53) T.1545.27.911b15–16. A de nition of the “wheel” of the doctrine, or the simile
of a “wheel” is also not alluded to in the following passages of the Nikyas: DN I.110
(Amba hasutta) I.148 (K adantasutta), II.41 (Mahpadnasutta); MN I.380 (Majjhimapasa
56), II.145 (Brahmyusutta 91); AN IV.186 (Mahvagga XII.8), IV.213 (Gahapattivagga
XXII.4); SN V.437–438 (Si sapvanavagga 31). Also the Pli Vinaya does not mention
the “wheel” of the doctrine: Mahvagga I.7.6; I.8.1–2; I.9.3–4; V.1.9–10; VI.26.8
(Oldenberg 1964, pp. 16, 18, 19, 181, 225; Rhys Davids & Oldenberg 1881, pp.
104–105, 109, 111; Rhys Davids & Oldenberg 1882, pp. 4–5, 95–96); Cullavagga
VI.4.4–5 (Oldenberg 1964, p. 156; Rhys Davids & Oldenberg 1885, pp. 182–184).
See also Udna 49 (Sonatherassavagga V.3).
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