"Shastra-vasna" or The Lust for Scriptures

[bodom]

I was reading wiki's article on Abhidhamma and came across this term. I have never heard it and was wondering its origin. I could not find any info on it. I also understand wiki's unreliable definitions and am concerned only with the origin of this term and its context in Buddhism if any.

Here is the article below:

The importance of the Abhidhamma Pitaka in classical Sinhalese Buddhism is suggested by the fact that it came to be furnished, not only, like much of the canon, with a commentary and a subcommentary on that commentary, but even with a subsubcommentary on that subcommentary.On the other hand, this relentless sub-commenting might be illustrative of what has been called "Shastra-vasna" or The Lust for Scriptures rather than a true effort at Nirvana , as envisioned by the Buddha. In more recent centuries, Burma has become the main centre of abhidhamma studies.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abhidhamma

[bodom]

*bump*

[cooran]

Hello bodom, all,

I'm not sure this is in the right forum.

Isn't sastra vasana an Advaita Vedanta concept?

http://www.indiadivine.org/audarya/adva ... asana.html

metta
Chris

[bodom]

Cooran thank you for the link much appreciated.I was not sure where to post this thread mods please move to where it belongs.

[meindzai]

Sounds like a case of somebody injecting their opinion into a Wikipedia article (CAN THAT HAPPEN? REALLY?) but it's still an interesting concept. The discussion on that forum seems to talk about whether studying can become a burden or not. Certainly this is something some teachers warn about.

But the Buddha said:

If he recites many teachings, but
— heedless man —
doesn't do what they say,
like a cowherd counting the cattle of
others,
he has no share in the contemplative life.

If he recites next to nothing
but follows the Dhamma
in line with the Dhamma;
abandoning passion,
aversion, delusion;
alert,
his mind well-released,
not clinging
either here or hereafter:
he has his share in the contemplative life.

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html

-M