Why Can't We Agree on ANYTHING?

[mikenz66]

I think this Feb 7, 2012 dhamma talk Opinions and Truth by Shaila Catherine goes a long way towards explaining why we can't agree on anything.

Wouldn't you agree?

Yes, that's a good talk. I have a lot of time for Shaila.


Mike

[SarathW]

Hi Danie
The question raised is a good one. I had the same question with my own experience. The disagreements were there even in Buddha’s time. This is why I think that we have disagreements.
a) Not understanding or misunderstanding of Buddha’s word.
b) Trying to interpreted Teaching literally rather than through experience
c) Do not want to accept Buddha’s word as final. For example Great Vegetarian debate.
d) Doubt – one of the Fetters
e) Mana – one of the fetters least understood by many
f) Not serious about Dhamma but just to have a conversation
g) In Buddhism no external agency to put the blame on things. We are responsible for our own action. This is very hard to accept. We always think that it is someone else fault
h) ...................

By attaining Sotapanna all this doubt will come to an end!

[danieLion]

I think this Feb 7, 2012 dhamma talk Opinions and Truth by Shaila Catherine goes a long way towards explaining why we can't agree on anything.

Wouldn't you agree?

Yes, that's a good talk. I have a lot of time for Shaila.


Mike

She's a star.

[danieLion]

This is why I think that we have disagreements....

e) Mana – one of the fetters least understood by many....

Indeed.

[SarathW]

Having said that why I think people dispute and disagree, I did not mean to say that I am free from all those defilements.
I am aware of them and continue to work to eliminate them. For example “Mana” will be completely eradicated by only on attaining Arhantship.

[Alex123]

Buddhists can't seem to agree on anything, including agreeing on what they agree and disagree about. Even within traditions, views are highly individualized (despite the efforts of traditionalists to keep and/or make orthodoxy and orthopraxy uniform).
...
So, does disunity among Buddhists reflect poorly on the Buddha Śāsana (religion, teachings). If so, why? If not, what does it say about the Śāsana?

Rational debate within Buddhism is much better than using "sword and fire" against those with other points of view. I don't think that fundamentalism and burning the heretics like was in other religions is a good thing.