[Buddha-l] Vaitulyakas

[L.S. Cousins]

Erik Hoogcarspel cites:

>Between the reigns of Vasabha and Voharika-Tissa (269-291 AD) for 
>about a century, nothing of importance appears to have taken place. 
>During the time of Voharika-Tissa, we hear for the first time of a 
>new school of thought called Vetullavasda, Vaitulyvada or 
>Mahasunnavadi.

The term Mahasuññavaadin is a beautiful example of unnecessary 
confusion generated by scholars. It is found in only one source, if 
that. The source is the discussion  in the Kathaavatthu commentary 
(Kv-a 168) concerning the view of some that the 'Sangha cannot 
receive gifts', since properly speaking the Sangho refers to the Path 
and Fruit i.e. the stages of enlightenment and stages of 
enlightenment do not accept gifts. The commentary (in the fourth or 
fifth century A.D.) states that this view is held _nowadays_ by the 
Vetullakas known as Mahaapuññavaadins (some Mss have 
Mahaasuññavaadins). In other words the commentator is referring to 
his own time.

So the commentator asserts that the view that in the highest sense 
the Sangha cannot receive gifts was held in the fourth century A.D. 
or so by Mahaayaanists of the sort he designates as Mahaasuññavaadins 
(accepting the variant reading). This clearly refers to Maadhyamikas 
of some kind. And indeed one can think of Perfection of Wisdom texts 
which could easily be interpreted as saying this by a Theravaadin. 
Evidently, the commentator did not think this was the view of all 
Mahaayaanists; hence the specification.

Clearly then the term Mahaasuññavaadin has nothing to do with the 
reign of Vohaarikatissa.

>So the Vaitulyas were a suñyavada group.

Rather the converse.

>According to Warder ('Indian Buddhism' p. 414) its a nickname for 
>mahayanists, derived from vaitaalika/vai.daalika = magician, 
>destrucionist.
>

Unlikely. It seems rather to be related to the name of a text or 
collection of texts - in Pali the Veda.lhapi.taka or Vetullapi.taka, 
supposedly brought from the Naaga realm. Note that a pi.taka is not 
necessarily a collection of texts; cf. the Cariyaapi.taka or the 
Bodhisattvapi.taka. It may also have something to do with the Anga 
known variously as Vedalla, Vaipulya and Vaitulya.

Lance Cousins