Some Reflections on the Term Sautrāntika in Vinaya Context: vinayadharaḥ sautrāntikaḥ in the Mahāparinirvāṇa-mahāsūtra

Abstract

The word sautrāntika is known to designate one of the philosophical schools in later documents, but its earlier phase remains uncertain. The discovery of this term in the Mahāparinirvāṇa-mahāsūtra thus brings forward new evidence essential for solving the problem of sautrāntika. In this paper, I will attempt to establish the interpretation of the context, in which the phrase vinayadharaḥ sautrāntikaḥ appears.