[Buddha-l] Kapila

r.g.morrison sgrmti at hotmail.com
Mon Aug 29 10:06:34 MDT 2005


Rahula asks:

: 1. It is said in the Buddhacarita that Alara Kalama is a Samkhya teacher? 
Is there anytruth in this? Is this supported by the Pali Canon.

This view is not supported by any Pali sutta, vinaya, or abhidharma text. 
Also, I do not think that the Buddhacarita actually says that Araa.da is a 
Saa"nkya teacher, but the doctrines attributed to him are clearly Saa"nkya.

: 2. Kapila, the founder of Samkhya is said to be mentioned in the Pali 
text. Can someone provide the references and passages involved?

There are a couple of monks called Kapila mentioned in the vinaya, but there 
is certainly no direct mention of the Kaplia said to be the founder of the 
Saa"nkhya system in the Pali Canon.

: 3. Can someone provide the reference and the passages in Asvaghosha's Life 
of Buddha (Buddhacarita) that mentioned Kapila / Samkhya?

Canto XII. 21 mentions Kapila - but no mention of Saa"nkya.

Hope this helps.

Robert


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