Search found 602 matches
- 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...
- 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...
- 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...
- 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...
- 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 ...
- 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 ...
- 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...
- 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...
- 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 ...
- 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 ...
- 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...
- 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...
- 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...
- 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...
- 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...