Chris,christopher::: wrote:I think you missed my point, which was also Retro's earlier point, imo.
I think you missed my point. When I and most Theravadins post on chatsite, we avoid the Mahayana forums like the plague (unless we have something supportive to offer). However, the Mahas take all kinds of liberties on the Theravada threads. Thus we smash them like the Buddha smashed those who disparaged him. Forum is the opportunity for discussion and straightforwardness. If the Mahas must ban us, so be it. We are free!
I do not see a recluse, or brahmin, a leader of a crowd, a teacher of a crowd or even one who acknowledges he is perfect and rightfully enlightened drawn into a dispute by me would not shiver tremble and sweat. Even a lifeless pillar drawn to a dispute by me would shiver and tremble, so what of a human being. As for you Aggivessana, there is sweat trickling down your forehead and some drops of sweat have pierced your over shawl and has fallen on the ground, on my body at the moment there is no sweat.
Saying that the Blessed One disclosed his golden hued body to that gathering. When this was said, Saccaka, the son of Nigantha became silent, confused, his form drooping, face turned down, unable to reply, sat down.
Then Dummukha the son of the Licchavis, saw Saccaka the son of Nigantha silent, confused, the form drooping, face turned down, unable to reply sitting. He said to the Blessed One: "Venerable sir, a comparison comes to me."
The Blessed One said: "Say it Dummukha."
Venerable sir, close to a village or hamlet, there’s a pond, in it a crab lives. Then a lot of boys and girls approach the pond, descend it and pull out the crab on to dry land. Whenever the crab puts out a limb, a boy or a girl would cut it and destroy it, with a stick or a stone. Thus the crab with all his limbs destroyed, is unable to descend to the pond as before. In the same manner, the Blessed One has cut off, broken, destroyed and smashed all the distortions of views and the vacillations of Saccaka the son of Nigantha and it is not possible that he should approach the Blessed One with the intention of a dispute.
MN 35