> -----Original Message-----
> From: rett [mailto:rett@...]
> Sent: Tuesday, 20 January, 2004 7:44 PM
> To: Pali@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: RE: [Pali] Give one's life for a friend - in Paali

Hi All

Maybe we should take this discussion off list.

> >Jou: Agreed. You can fare safely with the Buddha. Just use his own
> >definitions to understand his teaching rather than others'.
>
> Buddha and Buddhaghosa are two different people.

Of course.

> It sounds from this
> comment like you are equating them. Did I misunderstand?

Yes. :-} I was suggesting that it would be safer to fare with the
Buddha, by using the Buddha's own definitions to understand his own
teaching.

> > > There are places where his interpretation is clearly wrong.
> >
> >But to those who identify as Theravaadins this would be heresy! :-}
>
> I am a Theravaadin and I don't consider it heresy to value and revere
> Buddhaghosa,

I am not saying I think Theravaadins would consider it heresy to value
and revere Budhhaghosa's work [to be more precise], but not to. I say
this 'cause I understand Buddhaghosa is considered to be a Thera and
understand that Theravaadin means in the school of the elders, basically
taking the Thera as authoritative.

> but not assume that he is 100% correct at all places :-)

So you have a different meaning to Theravaadin that I do, a better
meaning, imo. :-}

Excellent. Where do you think he is wrong?

It is easy to say, I make mistakes, or the texts are not perfect, but
when it comes to specifics avoid admission.

> >Clinging to our beliefs as our selves [our identity, our soul =
> >identifying with a belief system] is dukkha
> >[sanynyaa-upaadaanak-khandhaa dukkhaa] and causes us not to
> be able to
> >look at the beliefs objectively, just as they are, beliefs,
> rather than
> >The Truth.
>
> Clinging to beliefs as our selves is a form of dukkha. I would agree
> with you.

:-}

> But if we are willing to abandon beliefs if convincing
> evidence arises that they are mistaken then we aren't clinging to
> them, are we?

As long as one thinks they are the truth, even temporarily, I'd say one
would be clinging.

But I'd say that when we think or say "I am Theravaadin" that we are not
practising the Buddha's teaching as I understand it. Could we say we are
not practising the Buddha's teaching AND still not be clinging?

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