Can someone explain to me the different scriptures used in Mahayana and Theravada Buddhism?
Hi Charlotte, I think that between the answerers we have a good account of the differences between the Theravaada & Mahaayaana Scriptures. I’d just add to Every knee shall bow’s answer that the collection of shorter discourses is called the Khuddaka Nikaaya, not the Sutta Nipaata; and i’d correct P’ang that the Mahaayaana Sutras were in some cases not written down until way after the 2nd Century CE. Now to address some of your other queries: similarities. : ) They all begin ‘Thus have i heard’, an introduction to each discourse attributed to the Venerable Ananda when he recited them from memory at the first Ecumenical Council (Sanghaayana). Those of the Pali Canon all have a convincing & consistent historical character. Some of the Mahaayaana ones have slightly mythic elements added to them. All the discourses claim to be the (reported) words of the Buddha, and were ratified by numerous ecumenical councils of the two schools. All were written down ~ 500 years after the Buddha’s Parinir
