Is there a gnostic element to the goals of Buddhism?

A discussion on all aspects of Theravāda Buddhism
User avatar
Viscid
Posts: 931
Joined: Fri Jul 09, 2010 8:55 pm
Location: Toronto, Canada
Contact:

Re: Is there a gnostic element to the goals of Buddhism?

Post by Viscid »

porpoise wrote:
Viscid wrote:Buddhist gnosis is fundamentally pragmatic: if it is a gnosis which leads to liberation, then it's valuable.
The Buddha made a pragmatic decision to just teach on the problem of suffering - that doesn't mean all his other realisations weren't of value.
True, it matters how we define what's valuable and what's not. The knowledge of the fact his birth place would become a destination people pilgrimage to was valuable in legitimizing this faith-invigorating act. But generally what we should consider 'valuable gnosis' is that gnosis which is universally valuable, i.e., not gnosis which is valuable to the Buddha's dispensation in particular.
"What holds attention determines action." - William James
Post Reply