400 Noble Truths

[User1249x]

I think it is a complete minsunderstanding of the essential teaching sorry but maybe you do not have the data to put it into proper context.

[Nicholas Weeks]

I think it is a complete minsunderstanding of the essential teaching sorry but maybe you do not have the data to put it into proper context.

(May regret this, but...) What is the it being misunderstood and what is the essential teaching.

[Nicholas Weeks]

I would have said, rather, that the Four Truths have more and deeper meanings than Buddha had time to teach, and that they are relevant or helpful on the Path but they are all consistent with the 4NT and can all be extrapolated from them (with enough thought, naturally).


Kim

So among some Mahayana extrapolated thoughts there are Path & Practice worthy words & deeds?

[User1249x]

I think it is a complete minsunderstanding of the essential teaching sorry but maybe you do not have the data to put it into proper context.

(May regret this, but...) What is the it being misunderstood and what is the essential teaching.

Four Noble Truths. What is a truth and what makes a truth Noble. I am not saying it is a bad teaching but it is not the teaching on The Noble Truths, lacks the characteristics, only title is same imo.

I can explain quickly what i think is lacking;
Aspect of causality is not expressed in 2nd & 4rd
Aspect of non-impermanence is not expressed in 3rd
First at least mentions "change" albeit in wrong context.

[Nicholas Weeks]

Four Noble Truths. What is a truth and what makes a truth Noble. I am not saying it is a bad teaching but it is not the teaching on The Noble Truths, lacks the characteristics, only title is same imo.

It is NOT the truth that is Noble, but the noble character of the one who studies & practices them.

[User1249x]

I don't even want to discuss it, i am glad you have affection for the Tathagata and interested and/or practicing meditation. Let's leave it at that.

[Nicholas Weeks]

I don't even want to discuss it, i am glad you have affection for the Tathagata and interested and/or practicing meditation. Let's leave it at that.

As you wish, but for others who may be interested...

Maybe a metaphor will clarify - To we worldlings water differs from ice and ice differs from steam. Yet a wiser Arya type knows that all are H2O. There are hidden aspects of the Four Truths that only an Arya mind & heart can fully understand.

[User1249x]

I don't even want to discuss it, i am glad you have affection for the Tathagata and interested and/or practicing meditation. Let's leave it at that.

As you wish, but for others who may be interested...

Maybe a metaphor will clarify - To we worldlings water differs from ice and ice differs from steam. Yet a wiser Arya type knows that all are H2O. There are hidden aspects of the Four Truths that only an Arya mind & heart can fully understand.

By all means do discuss i just think i should disengange because i tend to get emotional in these discussions.

Fwiw How i understand the 4NT;

• First Noble Truth: Changing & possible. (proclaiming existence of Samsara) [Suffering]
  
  Second Noble Truth: Change is caused, not uncaused (proclaiming causal nature of Samsara) [dependent origination]
  
  Third Noble Truth: uncaused & possible (proclaiming existence of the Not-Impermanent&Possible[Nibbana])
  
  Fourth Noble Truth: Exhaustion of causes is caused, not uncaused (proclaiming causal nature of the Cessation of Suffering) [8FNP]

What makes information true is that it is possible, applies to the actual system which it describes.
So the Tathagata is proclaiming a comperhensive model of the system in which all gains footing.

I am curious about what you make of this.

[User1249x]

I think it is a complete minsunderstanding of the essential teaching sorry but maybe you do not have the data to put it into proper context.

what i meant by this is that perhaps there is something we both are missing that which puts what you wrote into proper context.

[Kim OHara]

I would have said, rather, that the Four Truths have more and deeper meanings than Buddha had time to teach, and that they are relevant or helpful on the Path but they are all consistent with the 4NT and can all be extrapolated from them (with enough thought, naturally).


Kim

So among some Mahayana extrapolated thoughts there are Path & Practice worthy words & deeds?

Yes, I think so.
I know I'm in the minority in the way I understand the relationship between Theravada and Mahayana teachings but I have said before (and might as well say again) that if we think of Buddhism as a field of study in the Western sense, rather than a religion, then the Pali canon stands out as the work of the first great master of the field (a Galileo, Newton or Mendel). The Mahayana teachings then fall into place as further developments - not always exactly in line with the original teaching, perhaps, but built on its foundations to the best of the ability of people who followed after the Buddha.
And that looks like what we've got here, doesn't it?


Kim

[User1249x]

we think of Buddhism as a field of study in the Western sense, rather than a religion, then the Pali canon stands out as the work of the first great master of the field (a Galileo, Newton or Mendel).

I think of it as a formulae, in a completely scientific way that is, a map of sorts;

formula dictionary.com
1.
a set form of words, as for stating or declaring something definitely or authoritatively, for indicating procedure to be followed, or for prescribed use on some ceremonial occasion.
2.
any fixed or conventional method for doing something:
His mystery stories were written according to a popular formula.
3.
Mathematics.

a rule or principle, frequently expressed in algebraic symbols.
such a symbolic expression.

it's like a manual to life, means of understanding oneself and the enviroment completely

[sentinel]

So , what you called Formula , what you regard as Principle , may not be the same if Conditions change .
For example , take the solid-state of the stone , we may regard it as something Solid , but , for the deva there is No Hardness !

[User1249x]

So , what you called Formula , what you regard as Principle , may not be the same if Conditions change .
For example , take the solid-state of the stone , we may regard it as something Solid , but , for the deva there is No Hardness !

my understanding of it surely will change, what is ultimately possible and impossible wont change

[sentinel]

So , what you called Formula , what you regard as Principle , may not be the same if Conditions change .
For example , take the solid-state of the stone , we may regard it as something Solid , but , for the deva there is No Hardness !

my understanding of it surely will change, what is ultimately possible and impossible wont change

Haha , good luck !

[User1249x]

So , what you called Formula , what you regard as Principle , may not be the same if Conditions change .
For example , take the solid-state of the stone , we may regard it as something Solid , but , for the deva there is No Hardness !

my understanding of it surely will change, what is ultimately possible and impossible wont change

Haha , good luck !

what do you mean?
By what i said i meant that it will never be possible for a formation to be permanent, that is impossible and will remain so.