... And if "no self" teaching was so pedagogically important, why wasn't it all over the suttas and initial instructions that the Buddha gave? How about the many suttas on Dependent origination, they are all listing various conditions revealing that there is no self behind phenomena, only...

... And if "no self" teaching was so pedagogically important, why wasn't it all over the suttas and initial instructions that the Buddha gave? Maybe because he was teaching contrary to a commonly-held belief in Atta, and didn't want this to distract from the path he was teaching? Then on ...

Ceisiwr wrote: ↑Tue Nov 28, 2023 5:03 pm He also said that the whole world is empty of a self. If something can’t be found anywhere, then it doesn’t exist.

Is Nibbana part of "the whole world"? Yet it exists...



I am not saying that atta exists, only that the argument isn't as clear cut as I'd like it to be.

He said if his interlocutor would not be so confused, he would have said there is no self. He also said that the whole world is empty of a self. If something can’t be found anywhere, then it doesn’t exist. Again, the point I was making which is the methodology of teaching. Look how often he said &q...

Buddha was silent when asked about self and no self Buddhists say no self… Yes, you are right. It is interesting to read how the Buddha taught (how much he not-emphasized teaching "the self doesn't exist" at least not early on) vs how it is usually taught today with "no soul" ( ...

How could an Arahant communicate with others, then? Buddha was silent when asked about self and no self Buddhists say no self… Yes, you are right. It is interesting to read how the Buddha taught (how much he not-emphasized teaching "the self doesn't exist" at least not early on) vs how it...

Ceisiwr wrote: ↑Sun Nov 26, 2023 3:53 am In order to say “I am hungry” you have to think “I am hungry” even if it’s preceded by “this body is hungry”.

How could an Arahant communicate with others, then? What to do if many words (especially in some languages, pali included) imply a doer or receiver?

I've read the book. I've just read that critique. I didn't find it that particular effective. So what if he used earliest works dealing with pacceka-buddhas (but which were later than nikayas)? We don't have detailed earlier sources... The book was very interesting despite some flaws and brought to ...

So that momentariness that really matters is of course (empirically) observable. Right, the momentariness that really matters is what is observable. IMHO. The issue is: In the "Discourse on Elements" (Dhatukatha) book, page XXVII it says commentary to Dhatukatha claims that 10^12 of citta...

Via ChatGPT I've translated part of the Sarvāstivāda Abhidharma that discusses the Eight Liberations (Sangītiparyāya), for those who are interested in comparing with the Theravādin teaching. Regarding "transcending all aspects of form perception": Question: What is meant by transcending a...

“I just wanted to be a Paccekabuddha but that wretched brahama Sahampati made me teach.” The Buddha never said this, but I detect that something like this sentiment sometimes arises in him. There are a whole series of clues: (1) At the time of his enlightenment he did not want to teach but Sahampat...

whilst the Buddha’s teachings are all about dependence. But it’s not about dependent existence Rather it’s about dependent arising And if we are talking about dependent arising, I assume it is about paticcasamuppada, which is all about arising/ceasing of suffering. Not of the "objective" ...

If something really existed then it would be independent, Why can't dependent, compounded and inconstant object exist? It seems like someone is giving the word "[to] exist" some really strange meaning... "Exist (forever) " is the linchpin of the discussion. If "existence&qu...

Ceisiwr wrote: ↑Fri Nov 10, 2023 3:45 pm If something really existed then it would be independent,

Why can't dependent, compounded and inconstant object exist? It seems like someone is giving the word "[to] exist" some really strange meaning...

If something really did exist, there would be no cause and effect. Cold is relative to hot as long is to short. You can't say long is truly real, because its relative. If something "exists", that means that it can "act" (cause) and can be "acted upon" (effected by). Te...