The sotāpanna and the seven days of creation

Exploring Theravāda's connections to other paths - what can we learn from other traditions, religions and philosophies?
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Bundokji
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The sotāpanna and the seven days of creation

Post by Bundokji »

Friends,

In Buddhism, a sotāpanna is said to not take an eighth rebirth, while in monotheistic traditions (Genesis), it is said that God created the world in seven days, of which the last day was the day for resting (The Sabbath):
“Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made” (Genesis 2:1-3).
"Those who realized the Noble Truths well taught by him who is profound in wisdom (the Buddha), even though they may be exceedingly heedless, they will not take an eighth existence (in the realm of sense spheres). This precious jewel is the Sangha. By this (asseveration of the) truth may there be happiness.
Do you think there is a connection between the two? or is it completely accidental?
And the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus, saying: "Behold now, bhikkhus, I exhort you: All compounded things are subject to vanish. Strive with earnestness!"

This was the last word of the Tathagata.
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cappuccino
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Re: The sotāpanna and the seven days of creation

Post by cappuccino »

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Agnikan
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Re: The sotāpanna and the seven days of creation

Post by Agnikan »

Bundokji wrote: Thu Sep 08, 2022 8:27 pm Friends,

In Buddhism, a sotāpanna is said to not take an eighth rebirth, while in monotheistic traditions (Genesis), it is said that God created the world in seven days, of which the last day was the day for resting (The Sabbath):
“Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made” (Genesis 2:1-3).
"Those who realized the Noble Truths well taught by him who is profound in wisdom (the Buddha), even though they may be exceedingly heedless, they will not take an eighth existence (in the realm of sense spheres). This precious jewel is the Sangha. By this (asseveration of the) truth may there be happiness.
Do you think there is a connection between the two? or is it completely accidental?
Both ideas probably stem from the spiritual symbolism of the number 7, a symbolism that most likely ultimately originates from the observation of the 7 visible and moving entities in the heavens: Sun, Venus, Mercury, Moon, Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars.
Bundokji
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Re: The sotāpanna and the seven days of creation

Post by Bundokji »

Agnikan wrote: Thu Sep 08, 2022 10:17 pm Both ideas probably stem from the spiritual symbolism of the number 7, a symbolism that most likely ultimately originates from the observation of the 7 visible and moving entities in the heavens: Sun, Venus, Mercury, Moon, Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars.
Yes, of which the days of the week are named after (the cycle of creation). Some associate the Buddha with the number 4 and it is said that he was born in April. Also the planet Mercury is known as Budha in Sanskrit.
And the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus, saying: "Behold now, bhikkhus, I exhort you: All compounded things are subject to vanish. Strive with earnestness!"

This was the last word of the Tathagata.
SarathW
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Re: The sotāpanna and the seven days of creation

Post by SarathW »

“As the lamp consumes oil, the path realises Nibbana”
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