Eviatar Shulman teaches in the Departments for Religious Studies and Asian Studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Shulman posits that the texts are best understood as being part of an evolving, dynamic, creative tradition. This work will interest mainly specialized scholars of the Buddhist tradition

• Preface I. THE LITERARY APPROACH TO THE EARLY DISCOURSES1. Introduction: Rereading the Udumbarika-sutta A First Textual Analysis: Why the Udumbarika-sutta? The Formulaic Opening of the Mahasakuludayi-sutta as a Literary Preamble to the Udumbarika The Opening of the Pali Udumbarika-sutta The Philosophy of the Udumbarika Versions of the Udumbarika-sutta Conclusion 2. Literary Design in the Early Discourses Multivalence in the Majjhima Nikaya: A Reading of the Culatanhasankhaya-sutta The Art of Narrative in the Sila-kkhandha-vagga I: The Brahmajala The Art of Narrative in the Sila-kkhandha-vagga II: The Samaññaphala Applying and Reapplying the SKV Formula What is Editing? Conclusion: The Art of Interpretation in the Nikayas II. INNER AND OUTER WORLDS OF LITERARY EXPRESSION3. Mindfulness of the Buddha in the Mahaparinibbana-suttaReading and Listening to the Mahaparinibbana-sutta (MPS) The Climax: The Buddha Relinquishes His Life Nearing the Buddha's Death Death and its Aftermath Epilogue: Ananda's Vision of the Buddha Before His Enlightenment 4. The Folklore of Sutta: Performance in the Early Discourses and Texts as Versions Buddhist Fun in the Patika-suttaThe Patika as a Version A Doctrinal Version The Buddha's Perplexing Austerities in the Mahasihanada Bring in the Jatakas The Closing Section of the Patika Conclusion III. COMPOSING BUDDHIST SCRIPTURE THROUGH THE PLAY OF FORMULAS5. The Play of Formulas: Toward a Theory of Composition for the Early Discourses The Perils of Historicism in Buddhist Studies Literary Solutions to Historicist Fallacies The Primacy of the Formula An Alternative ApproachThe Play of Formulas and the Unanswered Questions Playing with Formulas on Brahmin-Householders Conclusion: Buddhist Orality Revisited 6. Re-telling the Buddha's Enlightenment in the Majjhima NikayaAwakening in the Bhayabherava-Sutta ("The Discourse on Fear and Dread," MN 4) The Dvedhavitakka-Sutta ("The Discourse on Two Types of Thoughts," MN 19) The Ariyapariyesana-Sutta ("The Discourse on the Noble Search," MN 26) The Mahasaccaka-Sutta ("The Greater Discourse with Saccaka," MN 36) The Bodhirajakumara-Sutta ("The Discourse to Prince Bodhi," MN 85) The Sangarava-Sutta ("The Discourse to Sangarava," MN 100) The Art of Narrative in the Sila-kkhandha-vagga I: The BrahmajalaConclusion 7. Conclusion: The Play of Formulas and Meditative Practice Bibliography

Eviatar Shulman teaches in the Departments for Religious Studies and Asian Studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Shulman posits that the texts are best understood as being part of an evolving, dynamic, creative tradition. This work will interest mainly specialized scholars of the Buddhist tradition

• Preface I. THE LITERARY APPROACH TO THE EARLY DISCOURSES1. Introduction: Rereading the Udumbarika-sutta A First Textual Analysis: Why the Udumbarika-sutta? The Formulaic Opening of the Mahasakuludayi-sutta as a Literary Preamble to the Udumbarika The Opening of the Pali Udumbarika-sutta The Philosophy of the Udumbarika Versions of the Udumbarika-sutta Conclusion 2. Literary Design in the Early Discourses Multivalence in the Majjhima Nikaya: A Reading of the Culatanhasankhaya-sutta The Art of Narrative in the Sila-kkhandha-vagga I: The Brahmajala The Art of Narrative in the Sila-kkhandha-vagga II: The Samaññaphala Applying and Reapplying the SKV Formula What is Editing? Conclusion: The Art of Interpretation in the Nikayas II. INNER AND OUTER WORLDS OF LITERARY EXPRESSION3. Mindfulness of the Buddha in the Mahaparinibbana-suttaReading and Listening to the Mahaparinibbana-sutta (MPS) The Climax: The Buddha Relinquishes His Life Nearing the Buddha's Death Death and its Aftermath Epilogue: Ananda's Vision of the Buddha Before His Enlightenment 4. The Folklore of Sutta: Performance in the Early Discourses and Texts as Versions Buddhist Fun in the Patika-suttaThe Patika as a Version A Doctrinal Version The Buddha's Perplexing Austerities in the Mahasihanada Bring in the Jatakas The Closing Section of the Patika Conclusion III. COMPOSING BUDDHIST SCRIPTURE THROUGH THE PLAY OF FORMULAS5. The Play of Formulas: Toward a Theory of Composition for the Early Discourses The Perils of Historicism in Buddhist Studies Literary Solutions to Historicist Fallacies The Primacy of the Formula An Alternative ApproachThe Play of Formulas and the Unanswered Questions Playing with Formulas on Brahmin-Householders Conclusion: Buddhist Orality Revisited 6. Re-telling the Buddha's Enlightenment in the Majjhima NikayaAwakening in the Bhayabherava-Sutta ("The Discourse on Fear and Dread," MN 4) The Dvedhavitakka-Sutta ("The Discourse on Two Types of Thoughts," MN 19) The Ariyapariyesana-Sutta ("The Discourse on the Noble Search," MN 26) The Mahasaccaka-Sutta ("The Greater Discourse with Saccaka," MN 36) The Bodhirajakumara-Sutta ("The Discourse to Prince Bodhi," MN 85) The Sangarava-Sutta ("The Discourse to Sangarava," MN 100) The Art of Narrative in the Sila-kkhandha-vagga I: The BrahmajalaConclusion 7. Conclusion: The Play of Formulas and Meditative Practice Bibliography