The Visuddhi Magga and Abhidhamma may not have been taught by the Buddha! (Sama dengan Bahasa)

Discussion of Abhidhamma and related Commentaries
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Dhammarakkhito
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The Visuddhi Magga and Abhidhamma may not have been taught by the Buddha! (Sama dengan Bahasa)

Post by Dhammarakkhito »

"Just as the ocean has a single taste — that of salt — in the same way, this Dhamma-Vinaya has a single taste: that of release."
— Ud 5.5

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Re: The Visuddhi Magga and Abhidhamma may not have been taught by the Buddha! (Sama dengan Bahasa)

Post by retrofuturist »

Greetings,

Internally, the creation of the Abhdhamma Pitaka is unattributed to any author. Attribution for the creation of the Abhidhamma teaching was made in subsequent commentary.

The Visuddhimagga was either authored and/or compiled by ven. Buddhaghosa. Given this elder lived roughly one millennium after the Buddha, it's kind of obvious it wasn't taught by the Buddha. I've never heard it suggested that it was...

Metta,
Paul. :)
"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
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Re: The Visuddhi Magga and Abhidhamma may not have been taught by the Buddha! (Sama dengan Bahasa)

Post by SarathW »

The real question is whether the teaching of Abhidhamma and Visuddhi Magga contain the Buddha's teaching.
My understanding is they both contain Buddha's teaching. (say 99%)
This is no difference to Sutta. Even Sutta does not have 100% representation of what Buddha taught.
I think those monks who discourage their student to study Abhidhamma and Visuddhi Magga are irresponsible.
“As the lamp consumes oil, the path realises Nibbana”
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Re: The Visuddhi Magga and Abhidhamma may not have been taught by the Buddha! (Sama dengan Bahasa)

Post by retrofuturist »

Greetings Sarath,
SarathW wrote: Mon Jan 15, 2018 9:35 pm My understanding is they both contain Buddha's teaching. (say 99%)
Do you mean that 99% of what is said in these sources was literally said by the Buddha, and that the elders compiled additional content from the Blessed One which had been omitted from the suttas, for whatever reason?

Or something else?

Just trying to work out exactly what you're claiming here...

Metta,
Paul. :)
"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
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Re: The Visuddhi Magga and Abhidhamma may not have been taught by the Buddha! (Sama dengan Bahasa)

Post by SarathW »

retrofuturist wrote: Mon Jan 15, 2018 9:44 pm Greetings Sarath,
SarathW wrote: Mon Jan 15, 2018 9:35 pm My understanding is they both contain Buddha's teaching. (say 99%)
Do you mean that 99% of what is said in these sources was literally said by the Buddha, and that the elders compiled additional content from the Blessed One which had been omitted from the suttas, for whatever reason?

Or something else?

Just trying to work out exactly what you're claiming here...

Metta,
Paul. :)
No.
What I am saying is what those documents contains are Buddha's teaching but may be compiled in a different way.
Even the Suttas are not what literally said by the Buddha.
Sutta are also a tabulation or a compilation.
“As the lamp consumes oil, the path realises Nibbana”
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Re: The Visuddhi Magga and Abhidhamma may not have been taught by the Buddha! (Sama dengan Bahasa)

Post by paul »

SarathW wrote: Mon Jan 15, 2018 11:01 pm :goodpost:
What I am saying is what those documents contains are Buddha's teaching but may be compiled in a different way.
Even the Suttas are not what literally said by the Buddha.
Sutta are also a tabulation or a compilation.
An example of being compiled differently and expanded on is dispassion, which for example in the suttas is referred to simply as:

"There is the case where a monk develops mindfulness as a factor for awakening dependent on seclusion, dependent on dispassion, dependent on cessation, resulting in relinquishment". ---MN 118.

Whereas in the Visuddhimagga it is expanded on in the nine insight knowledges following contemplation of impermanence and dissolution.---Vism XXI.
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Re: The Visuddhi Magga and Abhidhamma may not have been taught by the Buddha! (Sama dengan Bahasa)

Post by SarathW »

paul wrote: Tue Jan 16, 2018 12:22 am
SarathW wrote: Mon Jan 15, 2018 11:01 pm :goodpost:
What I am saying is what those documents contains are Buddha's teaching but may be compiled in a different way.
Even the Suttas are not what literally said by the Buddha.
Sutta are also a tabulation or a compilation.
An example of being compiled differently and expanded on is dispassion, which for example in the suttas is referred to simply as:

"There is the case where a monk develops mindfulness as a factor for awakening dependent on seclusion, dependent on dispassion, dependent on cessation, resulting in relinquishment". ---MN 118.

Whereas in the Visuddhimagga it is expanded on in the nine insight knowledges following contemplation of impermanence and dissolution.---Vism XXI.
Agree.
Even this expansion is find in Sutta somewhere.
“As the lamp consumes oil, the path realises Nibbana”
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Re: The Visuddhi Magga and Abhidhamma may not have been taught by the Buddha! (Sama dengan Bahasa)

Post by Zom »

Whereas in the Visuddhimagga it is expanded on in the nine insight knowledges
Nine insight knowledges is an example of a thing Buddha never taught. And many of such things are in there (Visuddhimagga, etc). This is called "Tharavada sloppiness" 8-)
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Re: The Visuddhi Magga and Abhidhamma may not have been taught by the Buddha! (Sama dengan Bahasa)

Post by Saengnapha »

Zom wrote: Tue Jan 16, 2018 1:12 pm
Whereas in the Visuddhimagga it is expanded on in the nine insight knowledges
Nine insight knowledges is an example of a thing Buddha never taught. And many of such things are in there (Visuddhimagga, etc). This is called "Tharavada sloppiness" 8-)
Many Sri Lankan monks, scholars, and teachers are disavowing Abhidhamma and Visuddhimagga.
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Re: The Visuddhi Magga and Abhidhamma may not have been taught by the Buddha! (Sama dengan Bahasa)

Post by pt1 »

The Venerable in the video, V.Vimalaramsi, is known for teaching "soft jhanas", which is different to how jhanas are presented in the Visuddhimagga.

So, it seems only natural that he would speak against Visuddhimagga, since the underlying assumption seems to be that both cannot be right (which is also why those who prefer the more traditional approach would then speak against V.Vimalaramsi's interpretations).

Having conversed with the Venerable online many years ago, I understand he did study the more traditional approaches in Mynamar, but he didn't find them to work for him for whatever reason, so he decided to develop his own approach to studying and mediation that he then later started to teach.

Of course, the claim that his teaching agrees with what the Buddha taught while some other teachings do not (e.g. Visuddhimagga or Abhidhamma) is nothing new compared to pretty much any other modern teacher out there.

As for whether Vsm and abhidhamma were taught by the Buddha or not - I was once given advice that the only way to really find out is to develop wisdom because "one who sees Dhamma sees the Buddha" (SN 22.87), and then you will know for yourself whether a particular text or teacher truly teaches in conformity with the Buddhadhamma, instead of relying on conjecture and spreading hearsay.

Note to moderators: I am surprised to see this topic in the abhidhamma forum and have to admit it feels a bit like being back on e-sangha where you couldn't study what you were interested in without getting harassed by people telling you that you are basically an idiot because you have an interest in something that they think is not the legitimate teaching of the day. I thought the whole point of creating Dhamma Wheel 10 years ago was to have a place where Theravadins of all stripes would have a home that's free of harassment?

That said, I'm sure people who prefer to frequent Modern Interpretations forum feel the same way when someone starts preaching from the traditional standpoint, but isn't that why there are moderators here and different subforums to organise the threads accordingly? Hence, Modern Interpretations sub forum for those that value modern interpretations, an abdhidhamma subforum for those that value abhidhamma, and so on.
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Re: The Visuddhi Magga and Abhidhamma may not have been taught by the Buddha! (Sama dengan Bahasa)

Post by robertk »

Note to moderators: I am surprised to see this topic in the abhidhamma forum
If it continues to generate interest and debate I will move it to the Great Abhidhamma Pitaka authenticity debate
viewtopic.php?f=26&t=2174&p=29446&hilit ... eat#p29446
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Re: The Visuddhi Magga and Abhidhamma may not have been taught by the Buddha! (Sama dengan Bahasa)

Post by Dhammarakkhito »

i didnt read the guidelines before i posted. :stirthepot: well, i thought it might produce some arguments on why abhidhamma could be authentic, which i would be interested in. no offense :guns:
"Just as the ocean has a single taste — that of salt — in the same way, this Dhamma-Vinaya has a single taste: that of release."
— Ud 5.5

https://www.facebook.com/noblebuddhadha ... 34/?type=3

http://seeingthroughthenet.net/
https://sites.google.com/site/santipada ... allytaught
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Re: The Visuddhi Magga and Abhidhamma may not have been taught by the Buddha! (Sama dengan Bahasa)

Post by Gwi II »

Dhammarakkhito wrote: Mon Jan 15, 2018 9:33 am
No Visuddhimaggo = No (right) meditation 😂

The scripture do not teach about absorption
(how to practice it completely) because it can
be accused of heretical religion, they will say
The Buddho taught "magic" (they're just jealous).



Like a clueless old person who doesn't understand
"coding" or like a child who doesn't understand math
or chemistry or physics or biology in university (lessons)
and then says, "I don't understand, this is useless class."
The teacher could (only) be silent then said, "Little child,
why don't you just play a game
."

Likewise, those who have doubts about the Abhidhammo
we can say to them, "Just enjoy the WORLDLY LANGUAGES,
in Abhidhammo, the worldly languages are REMOVED!!"
Gwi: "There are only-two Sakaṽādins:
Theraṽādå&Ṽibhajjaṽādå, the rest are
nonsakaṽādins!"
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Re: The Visuddhi Magga and Abhidhamma may not have been taught by the Buddha! (Sama dengan Bahasa)

Post by confusedlayman »

Only odd thing in vism is it says certain powers need to be exercised only after emerging from jhana but in sutta people are able to do without needing jhana everything from what I observe.
I may be slow learner but im at least learning...
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Re: The Visuddhi Magga and Abhidhamma may not have been taught by the Buddha! (Sama dengan Bahasa)

Post by Gwi II »

confusedlayman wrote: Wed Apr 26, 2023 8:23 am Only odd thing in vism is it says certain powers need to be exercised only after emerging from jhana but in sutta people are able to do without needing jhana everything from what I observe.
If you or anyone don't believe in Visuddhimaggo,
you don't need to read it (rather than lead to slander).

* same case with Abhidhammo


These five must be owned by buddhists (cultivated),
besides the scriptures, and the Commentary:

1. VISUDDHIMAGGO (IN FIRST ORDER),
2. The Great Chronicle of Buddhas,
3. Parittā book,
4. Abhidhammatta-saṅgaho (if someone doesn't understand
Abhidhammo EVEN THE EASIEST LESSONS, HE'S BETTER
KEEP SILENT or just study "Puggala-paňňatti [this is the
easiest Abhihammo book]"
),
5. Encyclopedia of Tipiṭaka (by Malala Sekera).

Ashin Khemindo (founder of DBS in Indonesia,
originator of Abhidhammo day in Indonesia),
"In Abhidhammo, worldly words are omitted,
like 'water' it is just a WORLD AGREEMENT,
which ABSOLUTELY IS H2O (because 'water'
is 'hydrogen and oxygen')."

"Abhidhamma Made Easy" by Venerable Khemindo
has and will continue to help many people.
:bow:
Gwi: "There are only-two Sakaṽādins:
Theraṽādå&Ṽibhajjaṽādå, the rest are
nonsakaṽādins!"
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