The "Paternalism" of Skillful Means in Buddhism
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- Опубликовано: 10 июл 2024
- The idea of "skillful means" plays a central role in much Buddhist dharma. We'll consider one of its most famous early examples and why one scholar considered it a "paternalistic" concept. We'll also look at its role in reinterpreting the dharma in a revolutionary way. Finally we'll consider the dangers of superiority conceit in Buddhist practice.
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Relevant inks:
✅ Videos:
Unveiling "Skillful Means" in Buddhism: Early Developments - • Unveiling "Skillful Me...
Discovering the Four Phases of "Skillful Means" in Buddhism: Dilemmas and Controversies - • Discovering the Four P...
The Buddhist Doctrine of Two Truths: Origins - • The Buddhist Doctrine ...
✅ Books:
Bhikkhu Anālayo, Superiority Conceit in Buddhist Traditions. amzn.to/3x4UCVu
Robert Buswell (ed.), Encyclopedia of Buddhism. amzn.to/3wy78N6
Tsugunari Kubo and Akira Yuyama (trans.), The Lotus Sutra (Numata Center for Buddhist Translation and Research, 2007). amzn.to/4bQo1To
Paul Williams, Mahāyāna Buddhism: The Doctrinal Foundations (2nd Ed.) amzn.to/3TdOEKw
✅ Papers:
Asaf Federman, “Literal Means and Hidden Meanings: A New Analysis of Skillful Means.” In Philosophy East & West (2009). www.jstor.org/stable/40213564
Damien Keown, “Paternalism in the Lotus Sutra.” Journal of Buddhist Ethics (1998). www.academia.edu/599738/Pater...
✅ Suttas:
suttacentral.net/iti25/en/sujato
suttacentral.net/an2.21-31/en...
suttacentral.net/dn9/en/sujato
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00:00 Intro
00:31 Early Buddhist context
01:46 Lotus Sutra’s parable of the burning house
05:39 Parable justifies significant doctrinal change
07:16 “Paternalism” of the Lotus Sutra
08:30 Conceit in Buddhist belief and practice
09:23 Historicism vs. conceit
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I came to the Nikayas after being exposed to Tibetan Buddhist teachings and was completely blown away by how the Satipatthana Sutta, the Anapanasati Sutta, and so many others spoke to me. I now am open to Early Buddhism as well as Mahayana teachings, particularly those rooted in the Nalanda tradition. What an incredible era in which to live- when we have access to so many precious teachings that have been preserved, cultivated and passed down over thousands of years. Buddhism is indeed a living tradition. Thank you for your efforts with this channel.
You're very welcome! Yes this is an amazing time.
I appreciate you delving into potentially "controversial" topics that might draw flak from traditionalists. That's the mark of a dispassionate (or non-attached) scholar!
🙏
Fscts❤
I read the Lotus Sutra on a whim a couple of years back, and while I'm not on board with the doctrine, it was a great read and pretty amazing on literary terms. It's such a wild ride, and it gets increasingly pyrotechnic (in one instance literally) page after page.
Yes, this is typical of much Mahāyāna literature.
I am of the Vajrayana Background but I consider the other Schools of Buddhism to be authentic as well. As some say the paths are diverse but the destination is the same
Yes it can be seen that way. Though the descriptions of the destination are quite different among the different schools, I think this is one aspect of the reorientation involved in the concept of "skillful means".
@@DougsDharma Yes, the description for the end goal among all schools are different. Personally I take all of them to mean as liberation from suffering
@@DougsDharmaI would like to hear your descriptions of the different destinations.
All the Varjayana teachers (Tibetans) I’ve listened to always emphasised the importance of ALL THREE YANAS. They even warned about the dangers of jumping right into Varjayana practices before having a solid understanding of the principle teachings by the Buddha. Especially the sunyata (Tongpa nji) teachings of the Prajnaparamita circle of teachings. Absolutely essential!
If you’re born in a Tibetan family (your YT name suggests that) your experience might be slightly different since so much of the Varjayana is out in the open in the Tibetan communities and mantras and other practices are floating around in the traditional Tibetan households. But to understand and utilise the immense powers of Varjayana we have no choice but to start at the beginning with the essential teachings of the Buddha. I know that for most lay Tibetans the basic teachings of the Buddha is presented alongside the parallel recitations of sadhana and mantra. It is all kind of melted into one whole already from the beginning. I’ve also heard more than once from Tibetan Lamas that the way Varjayana is presented and practiced by the Tibetan community is not how Varjayana was practiced in ancient India before it was transferred to Tibet. In ancient India it was very much a hidden practice due to the perceived need for protecting an uninitiated public from developing wrong views based on misconceptions caused by ignorance. Such wrong views can develop mental imprints effectively blocking the person from encountering and feel drawn towards such high teachings for very many lifetimes.
But as you know, also Varjayana is divided into lower and higher levels of practices with different degrees of severity attached to it. On top of that we have the three direct paths of Dzogchen, Chakya Chenpo & Shije that are all completely capable of uprooting all mental factors of samsara and deliver liberation and enlightenment to the practitioner. The Tibetan people are in this sense the most fortunate group of people in the world today. Such wealth of wisdom to draw from! And combined with the unique presence of enlightened lineage-holders that tirelessly return, life after life, to uphold and teach the unbiased true Dharma. Absolutely unprecedented in the history of spirituality!
Then again, Nalanda is an interesting example where it seems all three Yanas was studied and practiced independently by different groups of practitioners, all at the same time and under the same roof, sort of speak. Not mingling between the groups as we may think.
@@freetibet1000 First of all, I am Bhutanese 🇧🇹. Second, yes in India, the Vajrayana practices were secret and only meant to be taught to worthy students
A very interesting and important topic. Conceit certainly is a big issue in most spiritual practices and a big hinderance to many.
At the same time I feel many Buddhists may "turn a blind eye" one too many times in an effort not to criticize too much...
Buddhist cultism is a growing problem and I personally feel needs a more open conversation.
In fact, I would love to see a video on that topic.
PS: Just found an old video on the topic. 😅
Hey cool, it happens! 😄
wherever there are rituals and practice, there will be conceit.
Pay attention all, this video is what happens when a Buddhist eats his Wheaties one morning, decides to take on a 2000 year old uphill battle and does pretty darn well with it. Pretty gratifying to see as a Lotus Sutra Buddhist who happened upon this channel last week.
And I'm with you, Lotus Sutra Buddhists get this wrong an awful lot. There were 500 arhats who left the assembly in the Lotus Sutra at the very beginning before Buddha began to preach. It's a literary callback to the disciples who left Siddhartha at his enlightenment because of his Middle Path. They represent the so called lesser vehicle views but do we forget about the eleventy hundred million bajillion arhats who stayed for the whole thing? 21st century Theravadans aren't those guys. What a case of mistaken identity.
Fortunately, I believe Western Buddhists can easily make this correction for ourselves if not for all Buddhism in the long run because our modern Buddhist landscape is so different. We don't have to compete before Emperors to decide which Buddhism will be heard. Thich Nhat Hanh ran a forest monestery that to this day I can't tell if it's Elder Buddhism or Zen. We're all on the same internet listening to each other now, which is kinda the Lotus Sutra's dream come true.
The best ways to address Lotus Sutra Buddhists misguided on this topic is to show them all the ways Theravada has evolved since the Sutra's writing. And that lesson about conceit being the biggest block to higher attainment really does belong to all of us. In case of emergency break glass and use the Peaceful Practices chapter to slap us around with our own doctrine.
Great treatment of this topic. However, I'm still unclear as to Doug's views on surprise parties 🤔🪷
Thich Nhat Hanh was just an amazing human being and peace activist all around. If boddisathvas are real he is a good candidate
“The sticks and weeds have left .. now the teaching may begin
“ Thus I have heard
The World Honored One
approached the group of FIVE
“ He is loose , we are triggered with micro aggressions, we will not
give him a seat “
“ It is not for your benefit to call me Friend .. give an ear
PATERNALISM is impermanence ,
Or Impaternslism
Arising and falling out of
dependent origination from FEMINISM!”
And with THAT , just as a Paternal Father might flex his strong arm -
He circled to the Right
and … disappeared right there .
Happy Fathers Dad ❤
Thanks for the excellent video. This is a great follow up to your last video. Various questions which arose in my mind from your last vid were covered in this one which was superb. Regarding the revealing of the buddha and 'lesser means', i dont understand why the Lotus Sutra seems to be suggesting that at that point in time, people's capacities were suddenly ready for the great vehicle. Is it because buddha's practice was a new concept early on, so his disciples needed a steppingstone to the buddha goal via "lesser' means? Or is it that the buddha felt everyone's capacity had changed at that point? The lotus sutra essentially stated that the buddha goal was open to all, not just monastics, so i cannot figure out why the average lay person would require skillful means less than someone who practices dilligently during every waking hour. Although, I may very well be missing something important which explains what seems like a logical contradiction to me. About the great vehicle, I have always wondered why this was presented by some as a fourth vehicle, when it seemed to just be the third skillful mean- the boddhisattva ideal. Now i know the confusion was not just my own which is good, unless ive misunderstood.
It's a good question why this turn of the dharma occurred when it did. I don't really have an answer for you, though I imagine the difficulty of the early path for many may have had something to do with it.
Hi Doug, I'd love a video about Pure Land Buddhism, and the rebirth into pure lands as a suffer-less stop to make it easier to enter Nirvana. It's said that one should pray to Amitabha Buddha for Pure Land rebirth. Is there evidence that the Buddha himself taught this, or even that one should pray to a "deity" such as Amitabha Buddha for salvation?
These are all much later concepts. I may eventually do a video on Pure Land though it will take more research.
@@DougsDharma I'm looking forward to that video. On that note, may I also suggest a video on the practice of chanting dharanis and sutras as a form of "enchantment"; "magic", if you will, in Mahayana Buddhism.
Ultimately all yānas are aimed at the problem of suffering. As you have said Doug, it is pragmatic approach vs. a theoretical approach. Either way all deal with impermanence, suffering, and non-self, any buddhist school with these in mind is very much so Buddhist. But it is hard to understand how the Tathagata truly works, as the Tathagata is immeasurable, vast like the ocean, and hard to fathom, who even knows what the lost schools of Early Buddhists were teaching.
I think we have a pretty good idea of early Buddhism, triangulating from the early texts in Pāli, Chinese, and other languages, as well as descriptions of the "śrāvakayāna" in Mahāyāna texts. It gives a consistent picture.
@@DougsDharma Yes, not trying to say we don't understand Early Buddhism, just that there might be certain West Indian schools that are unknown to us. Like the ones the Greeks/Macedonians first contacted
🐱❤️🙏
I can't say from experience in many types of Buddhism but based on what I know from other religions, the closer you are to the source, the more authentic. Its like taco bell vs Mexican town level in some cases.
Historical authenticity perhaps, but often what comes later is authentic in a different way. For example the earliest Christianity was not a universal religion; that required Paul's reinterpretation of Jesus's message. Is essentially all of contemporary Christianity inauthentic? I would expect similar arguments can be made about all world religions.
@@DougsDharma Indeed I think so. My favorite Christian documents are some of the ones found in Nag Hammadi, including the Gospel of Thomas, which is in opposition to a lot of the positions held by the modern christian church, written as quotes from the living Jesus. Indeed I think a similar case can be made of all world religions. As the french Philosopher Voltaire's famous quote says:
“Anyone who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.”
"They(Lotus sutras etc) cannot have been spoken by the literal historical Buddha because they came centuries after his lifetime."
What do you say about the claim of people like Shanti Deva and Maitreya in Bodhicaryavatara and Sutra alamkara claiming that Mahayana sutras were spoken by historical Buddha?
These kinds of claims are made all the time. Similar claims are made of the abhidhamma/abhidharma.
@@DougsDharma How about prajny'ap'aramit'a vajracchedik'a; Diamond[-cutter] Sutra? In that text there are questions and answers between Buddha Shakyamuni and Subhuti. Could they be historical Buddha and historical Subhuti?
Sometime s it feels football fans , cheering on their own team .
Yes, attachment is universal.
no practice, no conceit.
Renuncation is "foundational" not "childish" but renunciation itself must also be renounced. There is no conceit or deception in the Lotus Sutra other than by those who left the assembly as it was being expounded. Xuanzang already settled all the disputes and interpretational conflicts being alluded to here back in the seventh century, he risked his life and travelled on foot accross the Himalaya to find a single book, did you even bother reading it? Historicism does not lead to liberation.
apparently Xuanzuang did not succeed at putting to rest arguments and clinging to rites and rituals and dogma...
This comment is an echo of dogmatic Stalinists who insist you will agree with their specific interpretation of Marxism if you just read the right books 😂
If it isn't childish why does the parable have a father literally tricking dumb children in a burning house with treats and prizes? It's clearly condescending. Also historicism is just inconvenient to you because it happens to contradict your sect -- I doubt you would apply the same standard to Christianity or Islam.