Substituting "liberating insight" Scholars have noted inconsistencies in the presentations of the Buddha's enlightenment, and the Buddhist path to liberation, in the oldest sutras. They argue that these inconsistencies show that the Buddhist teachings evolved, either during the lifetime of the Buddha, or thereafter.{{refn|group=note|name="development of teachings"|See: La Vallee Possin (1937), Musila et Narada; reprinted in Gombrich (2006), How Buddhism Began, appendix Erich Frauwallner (1953), Geschichte der indischen Philosophie, Band Der Buddha und der Jina (pp. 147–272) Andre Bareau (1963), Recherches sur la biographiedu Buddha dans les Sutrapitaka et les Vinayapitaka anciens, Ecole Francaise d'Extreme-Orient Schmithausen, On some Aspects of Descriptions or Theories of 'Liberating Insight' and 'Enlightenment' in Early Buddhism. In: Studien zum Jainismus und Buddhismus (Gedenkschrift für Ludwig Alsdorf), hrsg. von Klaus Bruhn und Albrecht Wezler, Wiesbaden 1981, 199–250. K.R. Norman, Four Noble Truths] Tilman Vetter (1988), The Ideas and Meditative Practices of Early Buddhism, by Tilmann Vetter , chapter four }} According to the Japanese scholar Ui, the four truths are not the earliest representation of the Buddha's enlightenment. Instead, they are a rather late theory on the content of the Buddha's enlightenment. According to Vetter and Bronkhorst, the earliest Buddhist path consisted of a set of practices which culminate in the practice of dhyana, leading to a calm of mind and awareness (mindfulness) which according to Vetter is the liberation which is being sought. Later on, "liberating insight" came to be regarded as equally liberating. This "liberating insight" came to be exemplified by prajna, or the insight in the "four truths", but also by other elements of the Buddhist teachings. According to Vetter and Bronkhorst, this growing importance of "liberating insight" was a response to other religious groups in India, which held that a liberating insight was indispensable for moksha, liberation from rebirth. This change is reflected in the canon, where, according to Bronkhorst,
suBsTItuting "LibErATinG iNsighT" scholars have NoTEd inCOnsIstEncIes in thE pResentatiONs oF tHe BUdDhA's enLIgHtenment, anD tHE bUDdhIst Path to lIberAtioN, in the olDeST sutRas. They argue that these InconsIsteNciEs Show thAT the BudDhist teaChIngs evoLVed, EitheR duRIng tHe LifeTiMe of tHe buddhA, or THereAfTer.{{rEfN|Group=nOte|naME="DEvELoPment oF TeachiNgs"|seE: LA valLEe pOssiN (1937), mUsILa et narada; RepRInTed iN gOmbrich (2006), hOw BUddHiSM begAN, appEndix erich fraUwallneR (1953), gESchichte dER IndischEN phIlOsophie, baNd Der bUddHa uND Der JinA (pp. 147–272) Andre baReAu (1963), reCherCheS sUr La bIograPHiEDU buDdHa daNs lES sUtrapitaka et leS vInayaPitaKa AnciEns, ecoLE frAncaiSe D'extrEmE-oRienT sCHmiTHAuseN, on somE aspects oF DesCriptIoNs Or thEoRies Of 'LiberatinG InSigHt' And 'enlightenmeNT' IN earLy buddHiSm. iN: studieN zum JaInismus und BuddHismUs (gEDENKsCHrIft FüR LUdwIg aLSDorF), HRsg. Von KLaus brUHn uNd albreCHT wezler, WiesBaDEn 1981, 199–250. k.r. nOrman, four nobLe trUThs] tiLMan vETTer (1988), tHe iDEAS and MEditAtIVE PRactIceS Of earlY budDhiSm, by tILMaNN vetter , Chapter Four }} ACcORdIng To tHe JapaNese SCholAr ui, the FoUr truths aRe nOt the eaRliest reprEsenTation of thE budDha's EnlightENmEnT. inSteaD, they ARe a ratheR Late THEory on THe coNteNt of the BuDDHA'S enLigHTenmEnt. aCcORdinG To vetTeR aNd BrOnkHORST, THe earliest BuddhiST Path ConSisted of a set oF pRaCtices whicH CulminAtE iN thE prActiCe of DHYAna, LeadIng tO a cAlm Of mind and AwarENess (mIndfulnEss) wHiCH aCcOrdiNg to vEtteR Is tHe liberaTiON whiCH Is BeinG SOUGhT. lAter On, "LibeRatIng insiGht" came To bE rEgarDed as equALLy liBerAtINg. this "LiberAtINg InSiGht" Came To be eXemPlified bY PRAjna, or The InsIght In tHE "four tRuths", bUT alSo bY other eLeMEntS oF The bUDdhiSt teachings. acCorDinG to vettEr and bronKHorst, tHIs GroWiNG impoRtancE of "LiBERatiNg insiGHt" was a resPOnSe to oTHER rEligious Groups in inDia, WHiCh heLd thAt a libeRatIng insiGHt was INdIspensable foR moksHA, lIbERAtIoN From REbirTh. thIS CHaNGe is RefleCteD in the caNOn, wheRE, aCCorDing tO broNKHorSt,