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Agamas / Nikayas?

JoshuaJoshua Veteran
edited November 2010 in Buddhism Basics
So.. what exactly is the difference? I'm under the impression that the Agamas are more or less proto-Nikayas from early, non-sectarian Buddhism? Is there a difference in meaning between the two words?

Comments

  • shenpennangwashenpennangwa
    edited November 2010
    Agama refers to the class of text that the Nikayas belong to.
    The word refers to sacred scriptures.
  • JoshuaJoshua Veteran
    edited November 2010
    Thank you for replying, I didn't think anyone was going to.

    Are you implying that there are other types of texts like the Nikayas which belong to the Agama catagory?
  • shenpennangwashenpennangwa
    edited November 2010
    valois wrote: »
    Thank you for replying, I didn't think anyone was going to.

    Are you implying that there are other types of texts like the Nikayas which belong to the Agama catagory?

    Technically there are.
    For instance the early scriptures of the other sramana traditions will have agamas. The Jains for instance have texts that fall under the category of agama.
  • JoshuaJoshua Veteran
    edited November 2010
    I see. So the Agamas are Supra-Buddhist, they in fact cover all shramana scriptures.

    Thanks again.
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