In Dhammapada (Brahmans) verse 412 it says: "He has gone beyond attachment here for both merit & evil — sorrowless, dustless, & pure: he's what I call a brahman."
So my question is: Is every Buddha and Arahant omnibenevolent?
Is every Buddha and Arahant omnibenevolent?
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Re: Is every Buddha and Arahant omnibenevolent?
Yes. Even a sotapanna cannot purposely or intentionally violate a precept. The arahant all the more so only acts with metta, karuna, upekkha, and mudita.smokey wrote: So my question is: Is every Buddha and Arahant omnibenevolent?
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Re: Is every Buddha and Arahant omnibenevolent?
I hesitate to answer 'yes' to that question. The point of the dhamma is not sila- it is vimutti/liberation (see the ratahavinita sutta). So if you ask me did the Buddha never say a harsh word- the answer is no- he did so, sometimes to get errant monks on to the right path. It was very pragmatic- with one aim in mind- the cessation of suffering. (not to say the end justified the means either) ..but catch-all phrases can be misleading..
With Metta
Karuna
Mudita
& Upekkha
Karuna
Mudita
& Upekkha
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Re: Is every Buddha and Arahant omnibenevolent?
Greetings smokey,
Metta,
Retro.
Towards what... people or actions or something/everything else etc.?smokey wrote:"He has gone beyond attachment here for both merit & evil — sorrowless, dustless, & pure: he's what I call a brahman."
So my question is: Is every Buddha and Arahant omnibenevolent?
Metta,
Retro.
"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
Re: Is every Buddha and Arahant omnibenevolent?
Well, are Buddhas and Arahants perfectly good in both actions, towards people and in morality? That would be my question.retrofuturist wrote:Greetings smokey,
Towards what... people or actions or something/everything else etc.?smokey wrote:"He has gone beyond attachment here for both merit & evil — sorrowless, dustless, & pure: he's what I call a brahman."
So my question is: Is every Buddha and Arahant omnibenevolent?
Metta,
Retro.
Re: Is every Buddha and Arahant omnibenevolent?
I think I may have found an answer to my question in Dhammapada, Chapter IX, verse 122.
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
"Don't underestimate merit ('It won't amount to much'). A water jar fills, even with water falling in drops. With merit — even if bit by bit, habitually — the enlightened one fills himself full. "
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
"Don't underestimate merit ('It won't amount to much'). A water jar fills, even with water falling in drops. With merit — even if bit by bit, habitually — the enlightened one fills himself full. "
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Re: Is every Buddha and Arahant omnibenevolent?
Greetings Smokey,
I ask because the Buddha was often critical of wrong views and wrong actions because they were harmful, but not because they caused him any personal suffering.
Is that "omnibenevolent" in your book?
Metta,
Retro.
I ask because the Buddha was often critical of wrong views and wrong actions because they were harmful, but not because they caused him any personal suffering.
Is that "omnibenevolent" in your book?
Metta,
Retro.
"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
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Re: Is every Buddha and Arahant omnibenevolent?
A better quote in the suttas, somewhere, it says that Buddhists cultivate boundless compassion. But compassion isn't always what we'd call "nice". For example, sometimes a compassionate parent needs to scream at or punish their child.smokey wrote:In Dhammapada (Brahmans) verse 412 it says: "He has gone beyond attachment here for both merit & evil — sorrowless, dustless, & pure: he's what I call a brahman."
So my question is: Is every Buddha and Arahant omnibenevolent?
Boundless compassion might not be the same as what you mean by "omnibenevolence".
Re: Is every Buddha and Arahant omnibenevolent?
Yes, I suppose it is.retrofuturist wrote:Greetings Smokey,
I ask because the Buddha was often critical of wrong views and wrong actions because they were harmful, but not because they caused him any personal suffering.
Is that "omnibenevolent" in your book?
Metta,
Retro.
Re: Is every Buddha and Arahant omnibenevolent?
I am not enlightened so I have opinions, Buddhas have no opinions, so my opinion is that Buddhas and Arahants are omnibenevolent. They cannot purposely violate any of the precepts nor commit any wrong doing. If Buddha was often critical of wrong views that was of benevolent and good intention, so no harm was done.