01. Vibhijjavada and early Buddhism

The Buddhists in Theravada countries such as Sri lanka, Thailand, Myanmar, Laos and Combodia believe that there is no differences between “Vibhajjavada and Early Buddhism” In the Pali text, The word “Vibhajjavada” is mentioned only one. In the Subbasutta of M.N. Brahmin Subha asked two questions to the Buddha.

Question (1)

A lay man is engaged in the wholesome activities. A monk is not engaged in wholesome activities. Who is better than whom? It means that a layman who does wholesome deeds, who is ethically good. Who leads good life is better than the ordained one who does not wholesome deeds. The Buddha answered this question as follow; “Vibhajjavado kho ahamettha manava nahamettha ekamsavado” Young man, I am an analyst of particular. I am not a person who gives categorical answer to this question.

The Buddha did not answer the question categorically but analytically. The Buddha answered that the person who is “Samm patipanna” right behaviour, whether he is a lay man or monk, is always superior one. But a person who is “Miccha Patipanna” wrong behaviour, whether he is a lay man or a monk, is always inferior one.

Question (2)

Subha asked the second question to the Buddha, “mahattampi mahapphalam gharavasa kammatthanam, appatampitam appphalam vibhajja kammatthanam, Idhabhavam gotamo ahati”. It means that lay man’s endeavour is more fruitful result than monk’s endeavour. What do you think of this? The Buddha said, “etthapi manava aham vibhajjavado nahametta ekamsavado” I am vibhajjavadi, not ekamsavadi on this point also. The Buddha said that there are two points of achieve more or less advantage.

(1)sambhajjamano = Doing things correctly.

(2)vibhajjamano = Doing things badly which are relating with lay man and monk.

Therefore, the Buddha said that he could not give categorical answer to subha’s questions. According to this Subha sutta, the Buddha can be called “Vibhajjavadi” and Buddhism can be called “Vibhajjavada”.

Therefore, the Buddha said that he could not give categorical answers to Subha’s questions. According to this Subha Sutta, the Buddha can be called “Vibhajjavadi” and Buddhism can be called “Vibhajjavada”.

Fourfold Questions

There are fourfold question in Catukka Nippata of A.N. Those are;

(1)Panho Ekamsabyakaraniyo= A question which should be explained categorically.

(2)Panho Vibhajjabykaraniyo= A question which should be explained analytically.

(3)Panho Patipucchabyakaraniyo= A question which should be replied with a counter-question.

(4)Panho Thapaniyavyakaraniyo= A question which should be set aside.

Although we can say Buddhism is Vibhajjavada according to this Subha Sutta, it can not be called completely Vibhajjavada, partly Vibhajjavada Because, according to the fourfold question,we should notice that the Buddha is sometimes with “Ekamsavada” sometimes with “Patipucchavada” and sometimes with “Thapaniyavada” Therefore, We cannot totally say that Vibhajjavada is Early Buddhism.(Word-446)