Zur Genese Des Buddhismus In Seinem Geschichtlichen Context - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary of the provided text from Johannes Bronkhorst's "Zur Genese Des Buddhismus In Seinem Geschichtlichen Context," focusing on the core arguments and method presented:

Core Argument: Reconstructing the Buddha's Teachings and Distinguishing Them from Later Developments

Johannes Bronkhorst's essay, "Zur Genese Des Buddhismus In Seinem Geschichtlichen Context," explores the complex task of identifying the original teachings of the historical Buddha amidst a vast and often contradictory Buddhist canon. He argues that achieving definitive certainty about the Buddha's original words is impossible, and that current understanding is largely hypothetical. His approach aims to establish a method for distinguishing the Buddha's core teachings from later accretions and influences.

Key Methodological Challenges and Bronkhorst's Proposed Solution

Bronkhorst identifies several major challenges in reconstructing the Buddha's original teachings:

Lack of Consensus: There is no agreement, even among Buddhists, let alone academics, on what constitutes the authentic word of the Buddha.
Oral Transmission and Expansion: Buddhist texts were transmitted orally for centuries and likely continued to be expanded even into the early centuries CE.
Internal Contradictions: The ancient collections of Buddhist texts are not uniform and contain numerous contradictions, both in teachings and practices. Many scholars conclude that the collections as a whole cannot be considered solely the Buddha's word.
Defining Authenticity: Traditional acceptance of the entire canon as the Buddha's word is questioned by modern scholarship.

Bronkhorst's Proposed Method for Identifying Non-Authenticity:

Instead of directly identifying authentic Buddha-words, Bronkhorst proposes a method for identifying non-authentic elements. This is based on two main criteria:

Internal Contradiction: Elements that are accepted in some parts of the Buddhist texts but are explicitly or implicitly criticized in others are likely non-authentic.
External Similarity (Influence): Elements that bear a strong resemblance to teachings and practices found outside the Buddhist community (particularly in Jainism and Brahmanism) are suspect, especially when they contradict or stand in tension with distinctly Buddhist teachings.

The principle is that when these two conditions are met, it suggests that these elements were borrowed from other religious or intellectual currents.

Key Areas of Comparison and Influence:

Bronkhorst emphasizes the importance of understanding the broader religious and intellectual landscape of the Buddha's time (the Śramaṇa movement) to apply his criteria. He highlights several key areas of comparison and potential influence:

Karma and Rebirth: The belief in a cycle of rebirth determined by karma was widespread. While Buddhism accepted this problematic framework, Bronkhorst argues the Buddha's unique contribution was to reinterpret karma not as physical actions, but primarily as desire (thirst) and intention. This psychological understanding of karma differentiated Buddhism from other traditions.
Methods of Liberation: Other ascetic movements sought liberation through practices like immobile asceticism or the realization of an inactive, true self. Bronkhorst suggests the Buddha rejected these, emphasizing instead attention and consciousness, leading to meditative states (dhyana) and the eventual destruction of "defilements" (āsrava).
Jainism and Brahmanism: Bronkhorst frequently refers to Jainism and Brahmanism as key points of comparison. He notes that similarities with Jainism, particularly in early verse collections, suggest direct influence. The Brahmanical tradition, especially the Upanishads, is cited as evidence for borrowed ideas, particularly concerning rebirth and karma.

Key Findings and Deductions:

Rejection of Immobile Asceticism: The Buddha likely rejected the Jain emphasis on immobile asceticism as a means to liberation.
Rejection of Static Self: The Buddha's teachings contrasted with the Upanishadic emphasis on realizing an inactive, true self for liberation.
The Buddha's Focus: Bronkhorst posits that the Buddha's core teaching was liberation from suffering and (likely) rebirth. He emphasizes that the goal was not mystical experience itself but the liberation achieved through psychological transformation.
Psychological Transformation as Proprium: The "psychologization" of karma, focusing on desire and intention rather than physical actions, is identified as a key distinguishing feature ("proprium") of the Buddha's teachings, marking a significant departure from other Indian traditions.
Lebenswandel (Way of Life): The Buddha's teachings were not merely theoretical but practical instructions for a way of life, involving a form of "conversion" or a radical reorientation of one's existence.
Historical Buddha vs. Later Buddhism: Bronkhorst is cautious about conflating the teachings of the historical Buddha with those of his disciples, suggesting that the Buddha himself may have taught a more "psychological" path, with later followers potentially "theologizing" these teachings.
Divinization of the Buddha: While the Buddha was revered, Bronkhorst hesitates to call it outright "divinization" in the early period. He notes that early Buddhist art predominantly used symbols rather than anthropomorphic representations of the Buddha.

Discussion and Nuances (from the Workshop Contributions):

The workshop discussion highlights several important points:

The Circularity Problem: The use of similarity to identify non-authenticity raises the risk of circular reasoning if not carefully applied. Bronkhorst's addition of internal contradiction as a second criterion helps to mitigate this.
Reciprocal Influence: The possibility of mutual influence between early Buddhist and Jain traditions is acknowledged.
The Śramaṇa Movement: Bronkhorst's theory posits a distinct Śramaṇa tradition alongside the Vedic tradition, from which Buddhism and Jainism likely emerged.
The Role of the Canon: The canon is understood as a collection accepted by a religious community, and its development was not monolithic, leading to different versions and later additions.
Religion vs. Psychology: The debate on whether Buddhism is a religion or psychology is persistent, with Bronkhorst leaning towards understanding it as a path of psychological transformation.
Rationality and Numinosity: While early Buddhism appears relatively rational, later Buddhist traditions, particularly Mahayana, incorporate more numinous elements.

Conclusion:

Bronkhorst's work offers a critical and nuanced approach to understanding the origins of Buddhism. By proposing a method for identifying non-authentic elements based on internal contradictions and external influences, he aims to shed light on the distinctiveness of the Buddha's core teachings, particularly the "psychologization" of karma and the emphasis on inner transformation as the path to liberation. His analysis underscores the dynamic and complex nature of religious development in ancient India.