The “Adbhuta-Dharma” Narratives in Translated Chinese Sarvāstivāda Texts

The concept of “adbhuta-dharma” (Ch. weicengyou fa 未曾有法) has developed and changed throughout Buddhism’s history. Indeed, the subject content adbhuta texts as well meaning term “adbhuta” (marvelous phenomenon) varies across scriptures. Looking through scriptures, it would seem that they originated narrative elaborations on various aspects Three Jewels—the Buddha, Dharma, Saṃgha. Then gradually, came to encapsulate those elements in scriptures related miraculous life Buddha careers his disciples. As one twelve divisions Buddhist canon, literary form adbhutas overlaps with other canonical genres, namely nidānas, avadānas, jātakas tales. This article will provide a careful analysis adbhuta-dharma narratives important Sarvāstivād Sūtras, Vinayas, Abhidharmas, such Chuyao jing 出曜經 Buddhacarita Fo suoxing zan 佛所行贊). These are because, while many monks laypeople might have been left uninspired by complexities thought doctrine, miracle were more accessible, playing an role popularizing Sarvāstivāda ideas doctrines. stories reached audiences Sūtra exegetical works could not, helping dissemination practice, later development spread Mahāyāna India beyond.