Grandchildren of the Buddha

[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.

[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.

[Modus.Ponens]

Venerable, Did Rahula have children before ordaining?

[perkele]

Venerable, Did Rahula have children before ordaining?

I think he was 7 or 10 years old or something when he ordained. So... probably not.

[Cittasanto]

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.

[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.

[David N. Snyder]

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.

[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.

[Cittasanto]

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.

[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.

[Cittasanto]

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

[John1122]

didn't the Buddha renounce his fathers lineage?

[Cittasanto]

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.