Search found 602 matches

by Bakmoon
Wed Jan 11, 2017 1:20 am
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: Theravāda & Nāgārjuna
Replies: 236
Views: 41738

Re: Theravāda & Nāgārjuna

This is not even vaguely similar to anything that Nágárjuna puts forth. You seem to be trying to criticize Maháyána Yogácára via a bizarre misunderstanding of Nágárjuna. Nágárjuna was not a yogácárin. If this is so, how do you explain Nágárjuna's statement that Nibbana is the same as samsara? (Plea...
by Bakmoon
Wed Jan 11, 2017 1:18 am
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: Theravāda & Nāgārjuna
Replies: 236
Views: 41738

Re: Theravāda & Nāgārjuna

Why does the earth element need to be inherently existent in order to have sub elements? Apart from when the mind is in jhanas (which is not ordinary awareness), does the experience of the earth element ever end or cease? Theravada Buddhism is based on insight where as Nagarjuna is based on intelle...
by Bakmoon
Tue Jan 10, 2017 10:44 am
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: Theravāda & Nāgārjuna
Replies: 236
Views: 41738

Re: Theravāda & Nāgārjuna

What is your opinion of Nāgārjuna as a Buddhist thinker? He used Mahāyānasūtrāṇi in his discourses, but a very early stage, before the differences between the two sects had diverged in extreme ways... Consider this: To say "it is" is to grasp for permanence. To say "it is not" i...
by Bakmoon
Tue Jan 10, 2017 10:41 am
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: Theravāda & Nāgārjuna
Replies: 236
Views: 41738

Re: Theravāda & Nāgārjuna

If Nāgārjuna posits that all things have no inherent existence then Nāgārjuna must posit the aggregates & elements (including the Nibbana element & the element of Dhamma Law) have no inherent existence. For example, if the element of earth has no inherent existence ( sabhava ), what are the...
by Bakmoon
Tue Jan 03, 2017 11:30 pm
Forum: Classical Theravāda
Topic: Nibbana as a dhamma in Classical Theravāda
Replies: 62
Views: 16088

Re: Nibbana as a dhamma in Classical Theravāda

Oh boy. Good old idealist Thanissaro, still believing in a self and in nibbana as a realm or some form of infinite consciousness... Completely ignoring the whole pali canon in favor of a wrong interpretation of an obscure verse. These are very harsh and shocking allegations. I don't agree with all ...
by Bakmoon
Tue Jan 03, 2017 11:21 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Did Buddha say Anihilationism was to be the best of the wrong views.?
Replies: 30
Views: 6878

Re: Did Buddha say Anihilationism was to be the best of the wrong views.?

Nagarjuna says something precisely to this effect, doesn't he? I'm not sure. He says that Nihilism/Annihilationism is very bad, but to my knowledge Nagarjuna himself doesn't explicitly compare this with eternalism. There are Mahayana texts that do say that eternalism is better than Annihilationism ...
by Bakmoon
Tue Jan 03, 2017 3:45 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Did Buddha say Anihilationism was to be the best of the wrong views.?
Replies: 30
Views: 6878

Re: Did Buddha say Anihilationism was to be the best of the wrong views.?

If you want to argue your (priestly) pro-morality case here, use the following verses from MN 60 (however they do contradict other suttas, particularly SN 12.15): ....this venerable person is still praised in the here-&-now by the observant as a person of good habits & right view: one who h...
by Bakmoon
Sun Jan 01, 2017 4:20 am
Forum: Classical Theravāda
Topic: Nibbana as a dhamma in Classical Theravāda
Replies: 62
Views: 16088

Re: Nibbana as a dhamma in Classical Theravāda

When there is no more fire (no more aggregates subject to clinging) there can not be any craving because the things that could be subject to craving do not exist anymore. Saying nibbana is the absence of hatred and delusion is incorrect. That means you believe in a state of been or even, god forbid...
by Bakmoon
Sat Dec 31, 2016 10:33 pm
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: Buddhist (& Sarvāstivāda?) Metaphysics
Replies: 50
Views: 9044

Re: Buddhist (& Sarvāstivāda?) Metaphysics

What I think is being argued from the āgama is that there is an innate inner nature that all dhammas share, that all dhammas are, on one fundamental level, the same and unchanging, on account of the svabhāva-dhātu. Where this misconception, from a mainstream Buddhist POV, leads one to go off-track ...
by Bakmoon
Sat Dec 31, 2016 10:24 pm
Forum: Classical Theravāda
Topic: Nibbana as a dhamma in Classical Theravāda
Replies: 62
Views: 16088

Re: Nibbana as a dhamma in Classical Theravāda

This whole inquiry is predicated on the notion that it is well-established in classical Theravāda discourse that Nibbana is a dhamma. I have heard this argued on a few threads, and those arguing it tend be people I am wont to trust vis-à-vis matters of classical Theravāda portent. If it is not the ...
by Bakmoon
Fri Dec 30, 2016 2:44 am
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: Buddhist (& Sarvāstivāda?) Metaphysics
Replies: 50
Views: 9044

Re: Buddhist (& Sarvāstivāda?) Metaphysics

The Pali literature calls the "law" of paṭiccasamuppāda "unchanging/permanent" more or less. And that is sufficient for setting up a "first principal" of metaphysics based on the Pali. I think we need to be very careful and very clear with how we use the word metaphysi...
by Bakmoon
Fri Dec 30, 2016 2:25 am
Forum: Classical Theravāda
Topic: Commentary on SN12.20 (Paccayasutta)
Replies: 16
Views: 3784

Re: Commentary on SN12.20 (Paccayasutta)

dependent origination is not a... substance that somehow inheres inside dhammas, but is a description of how dhammas behave. The idea that dependent origination could somehow be a.... substance is very strange indeed I think, because dependent origination is a set of causal links. If DO were someho...
by Bakmoon
Thu Dec 29, 2016 8:08 pm
Forum: Classical Theravāda
Topic: Commentary on SN12.20 (Paccayasutta)
Replies: 16
Views: 3784

Re: Commentary on SN12.20 (Paccayasutta)

Of course you wouldn't say that that "law" is some kind of ontological thing... Is this a crime or sin? What is the relevance of this "ontological thing" to Buddhism? just like you wouldn't say that the laws of physics are some ontological existing thing. Please explain more? It...
by Bakmoon
Thu Dec 29, 2016 8:41 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Are Sutta instructions applicable for monks only?
Replies: 23
Views: 3421

Re: Are Sutta instructions applicable for monks only?

It is important to note that many Sutta start the instructions saying "Monks" It was common for the Buddha to address his talks to the Monks and have laypeople present to hear his talks too. Sometimes the Buddha would even choose what to talk about based on the lay people. For example, ac...
by Bakmoon
Wed Dec 28, 2016 8:32 pm
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: Buddhist (& Sarvāstivāda?) Metaphysics
Replies: 50
Views: 9044

Re: Buddhists Metaphysics

It could also just be due to the fact that you're taking quite a technical text that was translated into Chinese from an indic language and then translated into English I mean, try translating any simple phrase to Chinese and then translating it back on Google translate... Good point. I remember li...