Similarities of Mahayana and theravada

Exploring Theravāda's connections to other paths - what can we learn from other traditions, religions and philosophies?
mfesmith
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Re: Similarities of Mahayana and theravada

Post by mfesmith »

suttametta wrote: I understand where you are coming from. It's my opinion. The Pali framework is scientific in my view. I feel the Mahayana invokes psychobabble and pseudoscience to covert its syncretization with Vedism.
This says loads about you as a Western-educated consumer of Asian religions, and very little about the Mahāyāna.
whynotme
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Re: Similarities of Mahayana and theravada

Post by whynotme »

Dan74 wrote: Hi whynotme,

Well my experience of Zen practice is that it is very down to earth and pragmatic - it deals with the now, rather than doctrines and dogmas. For instance I would not ask my teacher about Tathagatagharba or the Bodhisattva ideal unless this was directly relevant to what I was facing in my life right now - a question from the heart rather than waxing lyrical about all these big words like we tend to do here. And if she gave a talk about it, she would relate it very much to our life/practice right now, rather than postulating something as existing, positing views or establishing positions.

My practice has also been very much about the Noble Eightfold Path and in fact my Zen teacher has given talks directly on this subject. I was taught that without living right, meditation is not going to be right - that sila is the basis for practice. Zen practice that I know is also about relating every aspect of our lives back to practice rather than going through the motions. About recognizing how we engage with various aspects of our lives, seeing where the Brahmaviharas/Paramitas are lacking and cultivating them. About being present, facing life squarely and engaging fully - giving of yourself completely to everything you do. This happens gradually as the conceit of self wears off and one naturally comes to serve others rather than gratifying imaginary needs, to act appropriately to the situation.

So I fail to see which part of this is at odds with what the Buddha taught. Sure people can find plenty to criticize within the massive Mahayana corpus, from sectarianism to atman sounding doctrines. But what relevance this actually has to many many Mahayana practitioners out there, is another question entirely.

It sounds like it was directly relevant to Paul's (suttametta) practice, but not at all to mine so far.
Thank you for your clarification, I also knew how mahayana works in real life

Regards
Last edited by whynotme on Tue Aug 21, 2012 1:34 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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whynotme
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Re: Similarities of Mahayana and theravada

Post by whynotme »

tiltbillings wrote:In this and in the other thread, I am waiting for those less than thrilled with what is called the Mahayana to show some actual understanding of the history of the collection of schools/movements as well as the various teachings generally grouped together and called the Mahayana. It has been a disappointing and tedious wait.
Actually I don't care about history of mahayana, just like I don't care about history of Christian or Muslim. Even history of Therevada, they are all out of my interest and I only care about history of Nikayas and Vinaya, coz I just want to know which is the true teaching of the Buddha. I am just a truth seeker, not a savant

If you set your standard high, then your disappointment isn't something special. Also, history of those traditions isn't important, bc I just look at their current state and theory. It works like that in science and technology, you don't need to know much about history, you just look at the logic of the current problem.

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tiltbillings
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Re: Similarities of Mahayana and theravada

Post by tiltbillings »

whynotme wrote:I am just a truth seeker
Of course you are.
>> Do you see a man wise [enlightened/ariya] in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.<< -- Proverbs 26:12

This being is bound to samsara, kamma is his means for going beyond. -- SN I, 38.

“Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?” HPatDH p.723
mfesmith
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Re: Similarities of Mahayana and theravada

Post by mfesmith »

whynotme wrote: It works like that in science and technology, you don't need to know much about history, you just look at the logic of the current problem.
And thus, very important knowledge it lost to the ages, like for example, how to treat ill people when there is no electricity and antibiotics.
whynotme
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Re: Similarities of Mahayana and theravada

Post by whynotme »

tiltbillings wrote:
whynotme wrote:I am just a truth seeker
Of course you are.
No, I just used the word to emphasis the problem. I don't need your recognition and also you can't confirm what I am

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tiltbillings
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Re: Similarities of Mahayana and theravada

Post by tiltbillings »

whynotme wrote:
tiltbillings wrote:
whynotme wrote:I am just a truth seeker
Of course you are.
No, I just used the word to emphasis the problem. I don't need your recognition and also you can't confirm what I am

Regards
You missed the point.
>> Do you see a man wise [enlightened/ariya] in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.<< -- Proverbs 26:12

This being is bound to samsara, kamma is his means for going beyond. -- SN I, 38.

“Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?” HPatDH p.723
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tiltbillings
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Re: Similarities of Mahayana and theravada

Post by tiltbillings »

mfesmith wrote:
whynotme wrote: It works like that in science and technology, you don't need to know much about history, you just look at the logic of the current problem.
And thus, very important knowledge it lost to the ages, like for example, how to treat ill people when there is no electricity and antibiotics.
Honestly, Malcolm, this thread is not worth the effort.
>> Do you see a man wise [enlightened/ariya] in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.<< -- Proverbs 26:12

This being is bound to samsara, kamma is his means for going beyond. -- SN I, 38.

“Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?” HPatDH p.723
whynotme
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Re: Similarities of Mahayana and theravada

Post by whynotme »

mfesmith wrote:
whynotme wrote: It works like that in science and technology, you don't need to know much about history, you just look at the logic of the current problem.
And thus, very important knowledge it lost to the ages, like for example, how to treat ill people when there is no electricity and antibiotics.
That is another problem, but it isn't related to the scientific method.

Science is the modern term for wise, carefulness, logic, reason which isn't anything bad at all. Without those attributes, everything will be a mess

Regards
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manas
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Re: Similarities of Mahayana and theravada

Post by manas »

Regarding the original posting,

well we had better learn how to accept each other, because if different strands of Buddhism can't get along, I don't see how we can expect the rest of the world to, with their more rigid, theistic religions. We ask Christians, Muslims and Jews to live peacefully together and tolerate each others' differences, and yet I sometimes sense bitterness between Theravada and Mahayana Buddhist practitioners. Is this reasonable?

Anyway, just to reiterate - it is mostly not a problem here on Dhamma Wheel, ime. There is the occasional thread where someone seems to create that division, but mostly, I find that people here prefer to just 'live and let live'.

:anjali:
To the Buddha-refuge i go; to the Dhamma-refuge i go; to the Sangha-refuge i go.
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Enlightenment0106
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Re: Similarities of Mahayana and theravada

Post by Enlightenment0106 »

My intention was to try to bring peace between these 2 ranches of Buddhism. Guess it failed . Mod please close this topic. It's pointless to discuss this anymore. A lot of you are now Criticising the mahayahanist hence it makes things worse.
Form is emptiness. Emptiness is form--- Heart sutra
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tiltbillings
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Re: Similarities of Mahayana and theravada

Post by tiltbillings »

Thank you for trying.
>> Do you see a man wise [enlightened/ariya] in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.<< -- Proverbs 26:12

This being is bound to samsara, kamma is his means for going beyond. -- SN I, 38.

“Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?” HPatDH p.723
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