if you could ask the Buddha one question

[jcsuperstar]

if you could ask the Buddha one question, what would it be?

[Stephen K]

http://www.lioncity.net/buddhism/index. ... opic=34351

[Peter]

I guess I'd ask him for a contemplation subject. Being that he can read minds and all, he'd know what was most beneficial for me.

[clw_uk]

Great thread idea


Id ask him to explain to me Dependent origination in as much detail as possible

[Individual]

if you could ask the Buddha one question, what would it be?

"what's your best advice for me?"

[retrofuturist]

Greetings,

I would either ask what Peter asked, or ask "What are the most important things that the Theravada tradition got wrong?" so I could continue to use Theravada as a framework for my practice, but with those caveats and corrections provided by the Buddha.

Metta,
Retro.

[Individual]

Greetings,

I would either ask what Peter asked, or ask "What are the most important things that the Theravada tradition got wrong?" so I could continue to use Theravada as a framework for my practice, but with those caveats and corrections provided by the Buddha.

Metta,
Retro.

And if he says, "Nothing," boy did you waste YOUR question!

I'd go with Peter's choice, which is basically my same choice, because it's guaranteed to get a useful reply. What the Theravada tradition got wrong might not necessarily be relevant to your personal case, too. What if what they got wrong is just something trivial, like a few minor errors in the Tipitaka?

[Guy]

I would ask the same question as Individual.

[Peter]

Oh, see Retro, I was assuming I went back in time rather than the Buddha went forward in time, but your answer is good too.

But wait... if the Buddha was still around... would we even have Theravada?

[retrofuturist]

Greetings Individual,

And if he says, "Nothing," boy did you waste YOUR question!

Frankly, that would be the best possible result!

It would mean that not only did I get one question answered, but I would be in possession of all the answers found within the suttas, Abhidhamma, commentaries etc. and would know that they were all absolutely rock solid 100% correct and the height of magnificence.



Metta,
Retro.

[BlackBird]

After hearing what the Lord Buddha had to say to Retro, I would then ask: "What are the minor rules?"


Jack

[appicchato]

[quote="BlackBird]...I would then ask: "What are the minor rules?"[/quote]

[tiltbillings]

Great thread idea


Id ask him to explain to me Dependent origination in as much detail as possible

Oh, gawd; what would you do if he said that the three life version was correct?

[clw_uk]

Oh, gawd; what would you do if he said that the three life version was correct?

lol, then i would accept it


metta

[Ben]

Oh, gawd; what would you do if he said that the three life version was correct?

lol, then i would accept it

Somehow, I don't think you would.

[retrofuturist]

Greetings,

Whilst I don't think it's necessarily anyone's place to speculate how others would react in such a situation, I believe clw_uk would listen to the Buddha and believe what was said.

We all have different approaches to trying to piece together for ourselves what the Buddha actually taught... I'm sure no two approaches are entirely the same. No matter how confident that we may be that we understand the Buddha's teachings, we should never be complacent and never think we have a monopoly on their interpretation.

Metta,
Retro.

[clw_uk]

Oh, gawd; what would you do if he said that the three life version was correct?

lol, then i would accept it

Somehow, I don't think you would.

Hey Ben

Of course i would

If i didnt follow what the Buddha told me was benefical to ending dukkha then i wouldnt be a follower of Buddhadhamma, i wouldnt be taking refuge


Can i put a question to you (and others). If he said that D.O. wasnt three lives and that rebirth wasnt part of his teachings would you listen and still practice buddhadhamma?
metta

[tiltbillings]

If he said that D.O. wasnt three lives and that rebirth wasnt part of his teachings would you listen and still practice buddhadhamma?

I simply respond with: If you are dead and gone, nothing left, what is the point? He would not be much of a Buddha.

[clw_uk]

If he said that D.O. wasnt three lives and that rebirth wasnt part of his teachings would you listen and still practice buddhadhamma?

I simply respond with: If you are dead and gone, nothing left, what is the point? He would not be much of a Buddha.

Well thats assuming he would say that (he wouldnt actually since thats a specualtive view that leads to dukkha), my view is that he would most likely say that its irrelevant


just because someone says rebirth isnt in buddhadhamma doesn automatically mean "dead and gone forever"

Thats no different to a xtian saying "dont believe in god then there is nothing after death"

They are both false Dichotomies


perhaps the question simply doesnt matter

so if he said "it doesnt matter" or that its unhelpful speculation, what would you say?

[tiltbillings]

If he said that D.O. wasnt three lives and that rebirth wasnt part of his teachings would you listen and still practice buddhadhamma?

I simply respond with: If you are dead and gone, nothing left, what is the point? He would not be much of a Buddha.

Well thats assuming he would say that (he wouldnt actually since thats a specualtive view that leads to dukkha), my view is that he would most likely say that its irrelevant

Gawd almighty, its a joke, son, a joke. Time for you to give it a rest. You toot a one note horn, and its gone a bit flat.