The Vessantara-Jātaka and Mūlasarvāstivāda Vinaya Narrative

Abstract

In this paper I study a tale whose probably best-known version is the Vessantara-jātaka preserved in Pāli. My exploration is informed by an interest in the genesis of the basic trope and its function as a Vinaya narrative. 

I begin by summarizing a version of the tale found in the Saṅghabhedavastu of the Mūlasarvāstivāda Vinaya (1) and then turn to the topic of giving to brahmins (2) as well as to giving as one of the perfections (3). Next I take up aspects of the story from the viewpoint of normative Buddhist ethics (4) and from a historical-critical perspective (5), after which I explore its function as a Vinaya narrative (6).