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Vibhajjavāda

A Dictionary of Buddhism | 2004 | | Copyright

Vibhajjavāda (Pāli). ‘The Distinctionists’. A school of early Buddhism belonging to the Elder (Sthavira) tradition, which at the Council of Pāṭaliputra in c.250 ce (see Council of Pāṭaliputra II), was adjudged to embody the orthodox teachings of the Buddha. It is unclear, however, whether the Vibhajjavādins comprised one sect or a group of sects, and the precise nature of the movement and its doctrines and duration remain obscure. Since the Buddha is sometimes referred to in Pāli sources as a ‘Distinctionist’ (vibhajjavādī), the appellation may be an alternative designation for the Theravāda school. The ‘distinction’ in question may refer to the Buddha's basic methodological practice of making a ‘distinction’ between extremes and emphasizing the Middle Way (madhyamā-pratipad), but this interpretation of the origin of the term is conjectural.

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DAMIEN KEOWN. "Vibhajjavāda." A Dictionary of Buddhism. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

DAMIEN KEOWN. "Vibhajjavāda." A Dictionary of Buddhism. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O108-Vibhajjavda.html

DAMIEN KEOWN. "Vibhajjavāda." A Dictionary of Buddhism. 2004. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O108-Vibhajjavda.html

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Vibhajjavādin

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions | 1997 | | Copyright

Vibhajjavādin (Pāli, ‘Distinctionist’). A school of early Buddhism belonging to the Elder (Sthavira) tradition which at the Buddhist Council of Pāṭaliputra in 250 BCE was adjudged to embody the orthodox teachings of the Buddha. The appellation thus seems to be an alternative designation for the Theravāda school, and may be derived from the Buddha's basic methodological practice of making a ‘distinction’ between extreme views of all kinds in his teachings.

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JOHN BOWKER. "Vibhajjavādin." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

JOHN BOWKER. "Vibhajjavādin." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-Vibhajjavdin.html

JOHN BOWKER. "Vibhajjavādin." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-Vibhajjavdin.html

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