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?
What if a commentary contradicts a sutta?
Re: What if a commentary contradicts a sutta?
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
Where a commentary and a sutta are at odds - it can be a fruitful area of enquiry in that forum.
kind regards,
Ben
“No lists of things to be done. The day providential to itself. The hour. There is no later. This is later. All things of grace and beauty such that one holds them to one's heart have a common provenance in pain. Their birth in grief and ashes.”
- Cormac McCarthy, The Road
Learn this from the waters:
in mountain clefts and chasms,
loud gush the streamlets,
but great rivers flow silently.
- Sutta Nipata 3.725
Compassionate Hands Foundation (Buddhist aid in Myanmar) • Buddhist Global Relief • UNHCR
e: [email protected]..
- Cormac McCarthy, The Road
Learn this from the waters:
in mountain clefts and chasms,
loud gush the streamlets,
but great rivers flow silently.
- Sutta Nipata 3.725
Compassionate Hands Foundation (Buddhist aid in Myanmar) • Buddhist Global Relief • UNHCR
e: [email protected]..
Re: What if a commentary contradicts a sutta?
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.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.
Great! So, it's okay to challenge a textual idea with another textual idea so long as both come from Theravada, right?Where a commentary and a sutta are at odds - it can be a fruitful area of enquiry in that forum.
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retrofuturist
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Re: What if a commentary contradicts a sutta?
Greetings,
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.
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)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 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.
"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
Re: What if a commentary contradicts a sutta?
Yes, I understood that. Thanks.retrofuturist wrote:Greetings,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)jameswang wrote:Great! So, it's okay to challenge a textual idea with another textual idea so long as both come from Theravada, right?