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On what basis do Mahayana Buddhists consider their scriptures to be authoritative?
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The Mahayana Scriptures On what basis do Mahayana Buddhists consider their scriptures to be authoritative? There are a number of different thoughts about how the Mahayana scriptures came about. Some Mahayanists believe the scriptures are the word of the Buddha, which is why they see them as authoritative. The main reasons the Theravadins think they are not authoritative is that they think they were made up long after the Buddha's death. But it is thought, by Mahayanists, that the historical Buddha did teach Mahayana during his lifetime, but it was too advanced for the majority of Buddhists at the time. So he gave the teachings to Nagas, which are mythical sea serpents, to look after it until humans were ready for it. Others believe that as well as the First Buddhist Council there was also another Buddhist Council, at the same time, in which the Mahayana scriptures were recited. The teachings...
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