[Buddha-l] Written and oral traditions.

[Christopher Fynn]

Lance Cousins wrote:

> ... We do not know
> for certain when writing was introduced in India, although it probably 
> was not known at the time of the Buddha. Note that some Buddhist texts 
> may have been written down as early as the second century B.C. or before.

> Lance Cousins

Writing in India has a long history. The Indus Valley script, most likely to
have been used for writing a proto-Dravidian language, is found on seals dating 
from 2600 BCE to 1900 BCE.

There are examples of Harrapan 'script' which it is claimed go back to around
3500 BCE <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/334517.stm>

The earliest known examples of Brahmi script are inscriptions dated to around
500 BCE - but, as there are already several variants from that period, it 
probably originated somewhat earlier.

The earliest Kharosthi Script inscriptions appear to be from around 300 BCE - 
i.e. about the same time as Brahmi - mainly in modern-day N. Pakistan and E. 
Afghanistan.

A couple of months back Abdur Rehman  who works with Ahmad Hassan Dani 
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahmad_Hasan_Dani> in Pakistan told me they have 
recently found examples of a script which pre-dates Brahmi & Kharosthi - but is 
later the than Indus Valley scripts.

Even if writing was used in India at the time of the Buddha (which imo seems 
increasingly likely) it may have largely been used for ordinary purposes. 
Passing on religious/philosophical teachings orally may have been considered 
'more appropriate'.

A bias towards memory and the spoken word seems prevalent in India where 
Brahmins still learn to recite the Vedas from memory.

In the Tibetan Buddhist tradition it is considered vital to receive the oral 
transmission of any religious text before reading and studying it. Some Tibetan 
traditions insist that certain ceremonies - particularly monastic ordination -
are conducted by recitation entirely from memory. Is this the same in other 
Buddhist traditions?

- Chris