The last Abrahamic invader?

Exploring Theravāda's connections to other paths - what can we learn from other traditions, religions and philosophies?
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Kusala
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The last Abrahamic invader?

Post by Kusala »

Anyone familiar with the Kalachakra prophecy? This topic was discussed over at Dharma wheel https://www.dharmawheel.net/viewtopic.php?t=27486

I like to look at it from a Theravada Buddhist point of view. No one has made this connection, atleast not that I am aware of.



This sutta:

To Gotamī
Gotamī Sutta (AN 8:51)Gotamī Sutta (AN 8:51) https://www.dhammatalks.org/suttas/AN/AN8_51.html

“...But, Ānanda, if women had not obtained the Going-forth from the home life into homelessness in the Dhamma & Vinaya made known by the Tathāgata, the holy life would have lasted long, the true Dhamma would have lasted 1,000 years. But now that they have obtained the Going-forth from the home life into homelessness in the Dhamma & Vinaya made known by the Tathāgata, the holy life will not last long, the true Dhamma will last only 500 years..."


Why is 500 years so significant? This sutta had always confused me for some reason. That is until I came across the Kalachakra prophecy.


"Verse I.154 from The Abridged Kalachakra Tantra (Tib. bsDus-rgyud, Skt. Laghu Kalacakra Tantra) reads:

Adam, Noah, Abraham, and five others – Moses, Jesus, the White-Clad One, Muhammad, and Mahdi – with tamas, are in the asura-naga caste. The eighth will be the blinded one. The seventh will manifestly come to the city of Baghdad in the land of Mecca, (the place) in this world where a portion of the asura (caste) will have the form of the powerful, merciless mlecchas."


https://studybuddhism.com/en/advanced-s ... kalachakra

The advent of Christianity 500 years after Buddhism meant the "true Dhamma" would cease to exist.


“I did not come to bring peace, but a sword” (Matthew 10:34)
"He, the Blessed One, is indeed the Noble Lord, the Perfectly Enlightened One;
He is impeccable in conduct and understanding, the Serene One, the Knower of the Worlds;
He trains perfectly those who wish to be trained; he is Teacher of gods and men; he is Awake and Holy. "

--------------------------------------------
"The Dhamma is well-expounded by the Blessed One,
Apparent here and now, timeless, encouraging investigation,
Leading to liberation, to be experienced individually by the wise. "
BrokenBones
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Re: The last Abrahamic invader?

Post by BrokenBones »

I don't see what the kalachakra has to do with anything. An 11th century fairytale has nothing to do with the Buddha.
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DooDoot
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Re: The last Abrahamic invader?

Post by DooDoot »

Kusala wrote: Thu Jul 22, 2021 11:34 am the true Dhamma will last only 500 years..."
Since the above is said in relation to bhikkhunis, it appears the above refers to the true Dhamma rotting from within. If we study Abhidhamma, Jataka, etc, we can already discern the true Dhamma rotting from within.
There is always an official executioner. If you try to take his place, It is like trying to be a master carpenter and cutting wood. If you try to cut wood like a master carpenter, you will only hurt your hand.

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cappuccino
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Re: The last Abrahamic invader?

Post by cappuccino »

Kusala wrote: Thu Jul 22, 2021 11:34 am meant the "true Dhamma" would cease to exist.
No…
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Kusala
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Re: The last Abrahamic invader?

Post by Kusala »

BrokenBones wrote: Thu Jul 22, 2021 12:28 pm I don't see what the kalachakra has to do with anything. An 11th century fairytale has nothing to do with the Buddha.
3. "The Kalachakra identified the “barbarian dharma” with what would now be called Islamism, influenced by current events, just as the early Christians identified the Antichrist (= the Kalki Avatar) with Nero. Thus, this identification may be historically contingent and can only be understood literally in the context of that future time."

https://palisuttas.wordpress.com/2012/0 ... t-century/
"He, the Blessed One, is indeed the Noble Lord, the Perfectly Enlightened One;
He is impeccable in conduct and understanding, the Serene One, the Knower of the Worlds;
He trains perfectly those who wish to be trained; he is Teacher of gods and men; he is Awake and Holy. "

--------------------------------------------
"The Dhamma is well-expounded by the Blessed One,
Apparent here and now, timeless, encouraging investigation,
Leading to liberation, to be experienced individually by the wise. "
BrokenBones
Posts: 1783
Joined: Sat Nov 10, 2018 10:20 am

Re: The last Abrahamic invader?

Post by BrokenBones »

Kusala wrote: Fri Jul 23, 2021 7:10 am
BrokenBones wrote: Thu Jul 22, 2021 12:28 pm I don't see what the kalachakra has to do with anything. An 11th century fairytale has nothing to do with the Buddha.
3. "The Kalachakra identified the “barbarian dharma” with what would now be called Islamism, influenced by current events, just as the early Christians identified the Antichrist (= the Kalki Avatar) with Nero. Thus, this identification may be historically contingent and can only be understood literally in the context of that future time."

https://palisuttas.wordpress.com/2012/0 ... t-century/
Yes... Islam had been around for a good few centuries before the kalachakra was written... identifying it as 'barbarian dharma' wouldn't have been a revelation.
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