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What if a commentary contradicts a sutta?

Posted: Sun Aug 11, 2013 11:02 am
by jameswang
In Guidelines for the Classical Theravada forum, it says that "Within these forums the Pali Tipitaka and its commentaries are for discussion purposes treated as authoritative."

What if a commentary contradicts a sutta?

Re: What if a commentary contradicts a sutta?

Posted: Sun Aug 11, 2013 11:13 am
by Ben
The guidelines are there to ensure that the discussion is focused on developing or assisting others to develop their understanding of the Classical Theravada pov, meaning that pov that do not represent the classical theravada are off-topic in that forum.
Where a commentary and a sutta are at odds - it can be a fruitful area of enquiry in that forum.
kind regards,

Ben

Re: What if a commentary contradicts a sutta?

Posted: Mon Aug 12, 2013 3:28 am
by jameswang
Ben wrote:The guidelines are there to ensure that the discussion is focused on developing or assisting others to develop their understanding of the Classical Theravada pov, meaning that pov that do not represent the classical theravada are off-topic in that forum.
Thanks. But looking around, I find some rather unTheradava postings too. I suppose despite the somewhat rigid-sounding guideline, the moderators are quite moderate about the actual implementation, which is very good.
Where a commentary and a sutta are at odds - it can be a fruitful area of enquiry in that forum.
Great! So, it's okay to challenge a textual idea with another textual idea so long as both come from Theravada, right?

Re: What if a commentary contradicts a sutta?

Posted: Mon Aug 12, 2013 3:36 am
by retrofuturist
Greetings,
jameswang wrote:Great! So, it's okay to challenge a textual idea with another textual idea so long as both come from Theravada, right?
In the context of this forum, it would have to be specifically from the suttas or ancient commentaries (i.e. not the ideas and teachings of modern monastics/scholars/practitioners)

In the General Theravada section or elsewhere, what you propose would be perfectly alright. The purpose of this sub-section is so that the traditional sources/perspectives can be studied and discussed without undue interference or dismissal.

Metta,
Retro. :)

Re: What if a commentary contradicts a sutta?

Posted: Mon Aug 12, 2013 8:31 am
by jameswang
retrofuturist wrote:Greetings,
jameswang wrote:Great! So, it's okay to challenge a textual idea with another textual idea so long as both come from Theravada, right?
In the context of this forum, it would have to be specifically from the suttas or ancient commentaries (i.e. not the ideas and teachings of modern monastics/scholars/practitioners)
Yes, I understood that. Thanks. :-)