A Comparison of the Pali and Chinese Versions of the Bhikkhu Samyutta, a Collection of Early Buddhist Discourses on Monks

This article first briefly examines the textual structure of the Bhikkhu Samyutta of the Pali Samyutta-nikāya in conjunction with two other versions preserved in Chinese translation in Taishō vol. 2, nos. 99 and 100. Then it compares the main teachings contained in the three versions. These three versions of this collection on the subject of monks represent three different early Buddhist schools within the Sthavira branch. This comparative study of these three different versions focuses on four major topics: physical appearance, Dharma talk, solitude, and heat meditation. It reveals significant differences in structure and doctrinal content, thus advancing the historical/critical study of early Buddhist doctrine in this area.