In another thread I came across this passage I did not know:
I am wondering on what grounds it is especially profitable to give to monks and contemplatives. Is there a logical reason to this?DooDoot wrote: ↑Mon Nov 26, 2018 1:17 am Therefore, it could possibly be contrary to the Buddha-Dhamma to blame a world "economic slump" for one's personal economic hardships. I think modern sciences such as "evolution" and "economics" might possibly be contrary to Buddhism (like they are contrary to Christianity & Islam). I think MN 135 might possibly say it is due to past life kamma; as follows:For example, in this video, we can observe the way leading to great wealth: to be a giver of food, drink, cloth, sandals, garlands, scents, ointments, beds, dwellings, & lighting to brahmans & contemplatives."There is the case where a woman or man is not a giver of food, drink, cloth, sandals, garlands, scents, ointments, beds, dwellings, or lighting to brahmans or contemplatives. Through having adopted & carried out such actions, on the break-up of the body, after death he/she reappears in the plane of deprivation... If instead he/she comes to the human state, he/she is poor wherever reborn. This is the way leading to poverty: not to be a giver of food, drink, cloth, sandals, garlands, scents, ointments, beds, dwellings, or lighting to brahmans or contemplatives.
https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitak ... .than.html
I hope I'm not ruffling any feathers confessing that such a text sounds extremely suspicious to me as it clearly serves the interests of one specific group of people using bait and fear.
I hope DooDoot can contribute, as in another thread you precisely wrote that :
Which suggests my suspicions are not too much out of line and won't be deemed offensive, at least not by DooDoot. I'm really just trying to make sense of this, because it's so reminiscent of the classic ploy used in many other religions to con the masses.DooDoot wrote: ↑Sun Nov 25, 2018 11:09 amYou are free to superstitiously believe (without evidence) the Noble Eightfold Path leads to Nibbana. If you have not actually realised Nibbana then, imo, to believe in the entire Sutta Pitaka is just superstition. I personally find it quite illogical to claim the Buddha taught a unique path to Nibbana when the reality of Nibbana is not even known. Its no different to claiming Jesus taught a unique path to "God". If "God" is not known and "Nibbana" is not known then, to me, both are equally superstitious.
Thanks in advance.