"The Buddha did not teach it..."

Exploring Theravāda's connections to other paths - what can we learn from other traditions, religions and philosophies?
binocular
Posts: 8292
Joined: Sat Jan 17, 2009 11:13 pm

Re: "The Buddha did not teach it..."

Post by binocular »

Dan74 wrote:Firstly, how can we be confident that every single teaching the Buddha gave has been recorded and passed down? I mean 45 years worth of teaching? Do we think we have it all??
Given that the earliest existing Pali document dates to about 1000 years after the Buddha's parinibbana, I think this is a big leap of faith.

Secondly, supposing that the Buddha really did not teach something (like the Ajahn Sumedho's Sound of Silence meditation for example). Does this mean it is irrelevant and of no use? This to me seems a big leap of logic. Surely we are a product of quite a different culture and quite a different conditioning to the audience the Buddha faced. Wouldn't it follow that some methods would be more appropriate today than they would've been 2500 years ago in India? A master may follow the Dhamma, attain liberation and elaborate the Buddha's teaching for his disciples in his (or her) own way appropriate to the culture and the audience.

Thoughts?
Why is it an issue whether the Buddha taught something or not?

What is attempted to be accomplished by claiming "The Buddha taught this"?

What is attempted to be accomplished by claiming "The Buddha did not teach this"?


When people fight over what the Buddha taught or didn't teach, it seems to generally be about power trips and one-upmanship.

Although in one sense, a person living in modern times has to learn to deal with such things too, given there are so many fights over what the Buddha taught or didn't teach, and fights over what counts for Buddhism and what doesn't.
Hic Rhodus, hic salta!
alan
Posts: 3111
Joined: Wed Sep 30, 2009 12:14 am
Location: Miramar beach, Fl.

Re: "The Buddha did not teach it..."

Post by alan »

It's an issue, binocular, when people use it as an excuse to invent their own interpretations of the Dhamma.
binocular
Posts: 8292
Joined: Sat Jan 17, 2009 11:13 pm

Re: "The Buddha did not teach it..."

Post by binocular »

alan wrote:It's an issue, binocular, when people use it as an excuse to invent their own interpretations of the Dhamma.
Well, it's not just about inventing their own interpretations of the Dhamma, but moreso about expecting to be considered rightfully self-enlightened.

:embarassed:
Hic Rhodus, hic salta!
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