Bhesajjakkhandhaka (Chapter on Medicine)

by Hin-tak Sik | 2016 | 121,742 words

This study deals with the ancient Indian Medicine (Ayurveda) in Early Buddhist Literature and studies the Bhesajjakkhandhaka and the Parallels in other Vinaya Canons. The word Bhesajja means “medicine” and is the sixth chapter of the Khandhaka, which represents the second book of the Pali Vinaya Pitaka. Other works consulted include the Bhaisajya-s...

In the last chapter, ancient Indian medical history has been described. It is now reckoned that the śramaṇ-ic phase of Indian medicine played a significant role in the emergence of the systematic Āyurveda. As mentioned, the Buddhist saṅgha, being one of the śramaṇ-ic communities, significantly contributed to the development of Indian medicine by preserving much ancient medical knowledge. Medical details in this śramaṇ-ic phase were expounded by the Buddha, and are preserved in Buddhist literature.

It has been said that Buddhism’s main concern is in identifying suffering and prescribing the cessation of suffering. Sickness, being a form of suffering, was discussed by the Buddha, together with ways to relieve it. He gave many teachings pertaining to health, disease and medicine, and laid down rules concerning the use of remedies or substances for illnesses. These teachings and disciplinary instructions represent, at least partially, the medical knowledge at that time in ancient India. They are recorded in the Buddhist dharma-vinaya, i.e. the sūtras (discourses) and the vinaya (monastic disciplinary rules). The Vinaya Piṭaka, especially the Chapter on Medicine, contains rules about treatments and drugs, as mentioned. Tenets on health, disease and general medical principles, however, are not covered explicitly in the Vinaya Piṭaka or the Chapter on Medicine. Rather, they are illuminated in the discourses of the Sūtra Piṭaka. Hence, if based only on the facts in the Chapter on Medicine (which will be discussed and interpreted in the following two chapters), a comprehensive appreciation of these health/disease concepts and medical principles–i.e. the śramaṇ-ic medical lore–will not be achieved.

This chapter will introduce these health/medical teachings, which are mainly found in the discourses. The general concepts and discussions about health and disease will first be furnished. Thereafter, medical principles–such as anatomy, physiology, aetiology, designation of diseases, treatments, and health-maintaining measures–will be described.

Before proceeding, the sources for such doctrines have to be delineated. The sources will be confined to the aforementioned “dharma-vinaya,” i.e. the Nikāya-s/ Āgama-s[1] of the Sūtra Piṭaka and the Vinaya Piṭaka of early Buddhist literature. The reasons for this are: these texts are likely to represent the more original teachings and viewpoints of the Buddha; and they contain information which should be consistent with that in the Chapter on Medicine. There are many texts in Buddhist literature representing different stages of Buddhism. The scriptures of the early stage are less likely to have been changed (by later philosophical, religious, or sociocultural elements), and hence the teachings should be closer to what the Buddha gave. Besides, by confining the sources to the dharma-vinaya, where the sūtras and the vinaya supposedly represent the literature of the same stage of Buddhist history, then concepts of health/disease and medical principles found in the Sūtra Piṭaka are more likely to be in accordance with the medical data in the Chapter on Medicine, and to provide more uniform perspectives on health/medical issues.[2]

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

The Nikāyas of the Pāli canon and the Āgamas of the Chinese canon will be referenced.

[2]:

Although the discussion of these concepts and medical principles here is confined to the early dharma-vinaya, there is much medical information in the whole of Buddhist literature. Such materials are certainly worth exploring in the field of Buddhist Medicine. It is the author’s future plan to examine these data in various Buddhist texts.

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