Buddhism

Expat in Korea

(119 posts)

11. I once had the same question as the OP.

Sun Oct 19, 2014, 02:02 AM

Oct 2014

I spent years researching (informally) this topic and lived in Thailand for a year as a novice monk. The Pali Canon has the earliest known teachings of the Buddha. I respect Nagarjuna and the Mahayana development, but I could never accept the Mahayana sutras as authentic. They were written centuries after the Buddha's parinibbana (physical death) and there is a very clear shift in emphasis towards faith, the mystical and esoteric. The teachings in the Pali Canon are explicitly exoteric, and that seems to have been the Buddha's intent, seeing as how he said that he held back no secret teachings "in the closed fist of the teacher." That said, I'm all for anyone following whatever brings peace to your life.

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Possibly a very stupid question.... [View all] truebrit71 May 2014 OP

Apologies if this seems to be interference this group, but we have... TreasonousBastard May 2014 #1

This is a gross oversimplification TM99 May 2014 #2

...your post was very interesting. SoapBox May 2014 #3

Thanks TM99 May 2014 #4

Thank you. I have picked up a copy of the Pali Cannon as suggested. truebrit71 May 2014 #5

You are welcome. TM99 May 2014 #6

Regarding Stephen Batchelor's books bananas Jun 2014 #7

I must gently rebutt your post. TM99 Jul 2014 #9

A better quesyion is: what is the best type of Buddhism for you? vlyons Jul 2014 #8

Not really a fair assessment of the three existing schools today. TM99 Jul 2014 #10

I once had the same question as the OP. Expat in Korea Oct 2014 #11

perhaps not truer, but easier to follow isaantom Nov 2014 #12

Okay, let me amend the question somewhat... truebrit71 Nov 2014 #13

I suggest Zen for you. mmonk Dec 2014 #14

I agree. Zen would probably be a good fit for this person. liberal_at_heart Dec 2014 #16

why would you recomend Zen.? i certainly wouldn't to a beginner 1handclapn Dec 2014 #17

Interesting take. My reasoning centured mmonk Dec 2014 #19

Refuge vows vlyons Dec 2014 #15

Buddhism is not a Religion, 1handclapn Dec 2014 #18