mdo

mdo

Generally used for pithy statements, rules, and aphorisms, for the Buddha's non-tantric teachings in general, and as one of the twelve aspects of the Dharma, it means "teaching given in prose."

In general Indian usage, the word for a highly condensed arrangement of verses that lends itself to memorization, serving as a basic text for a particular school of thought. In Buddhism, a scripture, in as much as it records either the direct speech of the Buddha, or the speech of someone manifestly inspired by him.

Literally meaning "a thread," this was an ancient term for teachings that were memorized and orally transmitted in an essential form. Therefore it can mean "pithy statements," "rules," and "aphorisms." In Buddhism it refers to the Buddha's teachings, whatever their length, and in terms of the three divisions of the Buddha's teachings, it is the category of teachings other than those on the vinaya and abhidharma. It is also used as a category to contrast with the tantra teachings, though a number of important tantras have sūtra in their title. Another very specific meaning is when it is classed as one of the nine or twelve aspects of the Dharma. In that context sūtra means "a teaching given in prose," and as such is one aspect of what is generally called a sūtra .

Primarily within Buddhism it refers to the Buddha's nontantric teachings in general. Literally it means "thread." It is also used in other contexts for pithy statements, rules, and aphorisms, on which are strung a commentary and terms of the subdivisions of a sūtra into twelve aspects of the Dharma; in that case, sūtra then means only the prose part of a sūtra.

The sūtras or "discourses" are the teachings included in the three turnings of the doctrinal wheel, which Śākyamuni Buddha promulgated to his disciples as a fully ordained monk, consequent to his attainment of buddhahood.

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