Conclusion

Abstract

This chapter is the conclusion of the book and focuses on the later development of the Upāsakaśīla Sūtra. Generally speaking, the status of lay people in Buddhism has elevated in Mahayana Buddhism. Lay Buddhists have been given more religious responsibilities than those expected of lay Buddhists in Early Buddhism. For example, Mahayana lay bodhisattvas can help the monastic bodhisattvas to liberate sentient beings from suffering and give dharma talks. Since all bodhisattvas, monastic and lay, practice the six paramitas as their main training, the distinction between lay and monastic in Mahayana Buddhism becomes blurred. The sutra specifically mentions that lay bodhisattvas can liberate more sentient beings than can the ordained. The final point this chapter makes is that there are a few things unusual about the Upāsakaśīla Sūtra. For example, this Mahayana text adopts views of the Sarvastivadin Abhidharma, and it lacks certain typical Mahayana elements such as the ten stages—the stages of spiritual progress of a bodhisattva. These unusual occurrences may be worthy of future research.