Grandchildren of the Buddha

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Modus.Ponens
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Grandchildren of the Buddha

Post by Modus.Ponens »

I read an interesting article in which it says that, acording to a simplified mathematical model, we can all be grandchildren of such personalities as the Buddha (assuming his direct lineage didn't extinguish; i don't know if Rahula had children) or Confucious, or, in fact, every person alive from 550 AC backwards who's direct lineage didn't extinguish. So here in DW we are all cousins. :)
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Bhikkhu Pesala
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Re: Grandchildren of the Buddha

Post by Bhikkhu Pesala »

As far as I know, there is no direct biological lineage from the Buddha. Both Rāhula and Yasodharā (his mother) ordained and became Arahants. Most of the Sākyan race were wiped out by Vidadubhā, but no doubt some survived. I believe that there is still a tribal group in Nepal of the same name.

The monks are known as the sons of the Buddha — Sākyaputta.
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Modus.Ponens
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Re: Grandchildren of the Buddha

Post by Modus.Ponens »

Venerable, Did Rahula have children before ordaining?
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Re: Grandchildren of the Buddha

Post by perkele »

Modus.Ponens wrote:Venerable, Did Rahula have children before ordaining?
I think he was 7 or 10 years old or something when he ordained. So... probably not.
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Re: Grandchildren of the Buddha

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Modus.Ponens wrote:Venerable, Did Rahula have children before ordaining?
He was a child at the time of taking on the robes. and the rules about ordaining without parental consent stem from this event.
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Modus.Ponens
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Re: Grandchildren of the Buddha

Post by Modus.Ponens »

So we don't have the blood of the Buddha in us. That's disapointing. :( But the fact that we're all distant cousins remains.
'This is peace, this is exquisite — the resolution of all fabrications; the relinquishment of all acquisitions; the ending of craving; dispassion; cessation; Unbinding.' - Jhana Sutta
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Re: Grandchildren of the Buddha

Post by DNS »

Rahula didn't have any children, but the Buddha had many nephews and nieces. It is probable that at least one of them had children and passed on his genes (at least indirectly; some shared/similar genes). Therefore, there may be some Indians in the Northern provinces today who have an almost direct lineage to Gotama-Buddha and perhaps a direct lineage to Suddhodana.

I know Nanda (Buddha's half-brother) longed for his girlfriend after ordaining, but don't know if he had any children before ordaining.
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Re: Grandchildren of the Buddha

Post by Modus.Ponens »

The mathematical result implies more than that. It says that if the lineage of, say, Buddha's grandfather didn't extinguished, all of the population in earth are his direct descendents.
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Re: Grandchildren of the Buddha

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Modus.Ponens wrote:The mathematical result implies more than that. It says that if the lineage of, say, Buddha's grandfather didn't extinguished, all of the population in earth are his direct descendents.
the mathmatical model is just that a model, it doesn't prove anything.in fact,using the same model there are not enough people alive today. The same thing has been said of Gengis Kahn (who had a shed load of off-spiring) and through DNA studies not everyone who though they were descended were related.
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He who knows only his own side of the case knows little of that. His reasons may be good, and no one may have been able to refute them.
But if he is equally unable to refute the reasons on the opposite side, if he does not so much as know what they are, he has no ground for preferring either opinion …
...
He must be able to hear them from persons who actually believe them … he must know them in their most plausible and persuasive form.
John Stuart Mill
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Re: Grandchildren of the Buddha

Post by Modus.Ponens »

The model is simplified. There is another more sophisticated model in which the date in which the humanity is exactly divided into two groups (those who are our direct ascendents and those who don't have descendents today) is earlier than 550 AC. There are two explanations for Gengis Khan not being the gret-...-great grandfather of said person: he either doesn't have direct descendents or because he is inside the period where the wrold doesn't divides in two said groups.

Don't be so quick to dismiss mathematical models. An outdated model such as Newton's for gravity which has around 350 years is still used to model the trajectory of satelites and probes. It is impossible, as far as we know, to prove that a mathematical model is the correct one. But that doesn't mean that its predictions aren't remarkably accurate.
'This is peace, this is exquisite — the resolution of all fabrications; the relinquishment of all acquisitions; the ending of craving; dispassion; cessation; Unbinding.' - Jhana Sutta
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Re: Grandchildren of the Buddha

Post by Cittasanto »

Modus.Ponens wrote:The model is simplified. There is another more sophisticated model in which the date in which the humanity is exactly divided into two groups (those who are our direct ascendents and those who don't have descendents today) is earlier than 550 AC. There are two explanations for Gengis Khan not being the gret-...-great grandfather of said person: he either doesn't have direct descendents or because he is inside the period where the wrold doesn't divides in two said groups.

Don't be so quick to dismiss mathematical models. An outdated model such as Newton's for gravity which has around 350 years is still used to model the trajectory of satelites and probes. It is impossible, as far as we know, to prove that a mathematical model is the correct one. But that doesn't mean that its predictions aren't remarkably accurate.
I did find this,
http://sandwalk.blogspot.com/2009/10/ar ... magne.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

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He who knows only his own side of the case knows little of that. His reasons may be good, and no one may have been able to refute them.
But if he is equally unable to refute the reasons on the opposite side, if he does not so much as know what they are, he has no ground for preferring either opinion …
...
He must be able to hear them from persons who actually believe them … he must know them in their most plausible and persuasive form.
John Stuart Mill
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Re: Grandchildren of the Buddha

Post by John1122 »

didn't the Buddha renounce his fathers lineage?
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Re: Grandchildren of the Buddha

Post by Cittasanto »

John1122 wrote:didn't the Buddha renounce his fathers lineage?
To my understanding yes, he went to the lineage of the Noble Ones. I can not remember which sutta it is in, but maybe someone with share it.
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He who knows only his own side of the case knows little of that. His reasons may be good, and no one may have been able to refute them.
But if he is equally unable to refute the reasons on the opposite side, if he does not so much as know what they are, he has no ground for preferring either opinion …
...
He must be able to hear them from persons who actually believe them … he must know them in their most plausible and persuasive form.
John Stuart Mill
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