Hi Sarath,
SarathW said
How do you translate "Sabbe Dhamma Anatta" as per your (or Ven. Abhaya) interpretation? Does "Sabbe Dhamma" include Nibbana?
This is discussed at:
https://puredhamma.net/key-dhamma-conce ... -sankhara/
As explained there, Nibbana is not included in Dhamma.
SarathW said,
I also like to thank Lal for the development of the website without which we will not be able to discuss the views held by Waharaka lineage which is gathering a large following in Sri Lanka.
Thank you for your reassuring words. I normally don’t go to discussion boards due to this problem. It is amazing to see how intolerable some are of views that are different from theirs, but I did not expect that kind of response from bhikkhus, whom I venerate in the name of the Sariputta, moggalana lineage. I recently came back to this forum because Dr. Snyder asked me to. If he asks me to stay out, or if I feel that my time here would be a waste of time, I will.
Pali is “phonetic language” (sounds give the meanings in most cases, especially for key the words). It comes from Magadhi (Maga Adhi or Noble Path) that the Buddha spoke. It has no grammar like most other languages, even though people have tried over the past hundreds of years. Furthermore, Pali does not have its own alphabet either. When the Tipitaka was written down 2000 years ago, it was written in Pali with Sinhala script. It is good to know a bit of historical background:
https://puredhamma.net/historical-background/
The fact that Pali does not pay much attention to grammar can be clearly seen in the verses, “Buddhan Saranan gachchami“, “Dhamman Saranan gachchami”, etc.
- There is no subject in those sentences. The first of course means, “I take the refuge in the Buddha”, but “I” is missing in “Buddhan Saranan gachchami“. It is just understood.
- If you look at suttas, there is no clear grammatical structure. It is the sound that gives the meaning and most verses have “double meanings”. Most people just see the conventional meaning in some verses, which really have very deep meanings.
Buddha Dhamma is to be learned with understanding of the key concepts: dasa akusala (of which micca ditthi is the most important, but not many people pay attention to), anicca, dukkha, anatta, etc. Without that key understanding one cannot go beyond “moral living”. There are two Eightfold Paths as described in the Maha Chattarisaka sutta:
https://puredhamma.net/sutta-interpreta ... eat-forty/
Most people today are on the mundane Path, because they have not been even exposed to Tilakkhana. To start on the Lokottara Path, one needs to first comprehend anicca, dukkha,anatta.
Anyway, I do not intend to engage in “debates” here or anywhere else. That will lower the value of the Buddha Dhamma. The Buddha said trying to “sell” Dhamma, i.e., try to persuade another who is not willing to listen or to reason out, is like chasing a woman who has said “no”.
I will not respond to any derogatory remarks. It is not that I am offended (I really am not, just saddened), it is just that Buddha Dhamma requires respect. One does not listen to a desana with the shoes or a hat on. Trying to put down others in a discussion, and even worse try to “shut down” the other side, does not serve any purpose. Bringing down a Dhamma discussion to a “political like” debate by attacking the other side is demeaning to Buddha Dhamma.
But I am willing to clarify any issues that anyone has with my postings here or at my site. I know that many people have legitimate questions, since this interpretation is new and different for many. Please keep in mind that the Buddha said “my Dhamma has never been known to the world”: “pubbe ananustutesu Dhammesu..”. If it is so easy to grasp, we don’t need a Buddha in the world.
It is easy for a normal human to comprehend anicca as “impermanent”, for example, rather than “it is not possible to maintain things to one’s satisfaction in this world”; The deeper meaning takes time to comprehend, because one needs to spend time and contemplate long. That is why true Dhamma is kept hidden for long times until an Ariya like Ven. Waharaka Thero bring the true meanings out once in a long time. But if grasped, that will change one forever, because then one will be a Sotapanna.
Please post any questions any of you have in this link if possible. Even when I don’t have much time to check other discussions, I will visit this link to check. This is one way to pay gratitude to my late Noble teacher, Waharaka Thero.
With metta, Lal