Dear Robert, John, all,

Rob, I don't understand your question to John. On the surface, at
least, the quote below from the Mahavamsa seems at odds with the
teachings of the Fortunate One, don't you think? There were
reportedly 60,000 human beings killed by this King and his army.
(And, in the quote, the King and his soldiers seem to have been
absolved from the vipaka of the deaths of 59,998.5 people which are
discounted and trivialised.) This war, if it occurred, was just a
little footnote in history - not remembered today except in a
relatively obscure text. If it occurred, then this killing was in
brutal hand to hand combat. It takes a lot of intention, effort,
fear and hatred to kill another human with a sword, knife, spear or
hammer - there are litres of blood, and noise - a lot of running,
tackling, struggling, pleading, cursing - multiplied 60,000 times.
(WMD are so easy by comparison.)

Perhaps you are considering that the Arahant's explanation is in
terms of anatta, that there really are no humans killing or being
killed? But, the consolation was being given to a worldling, and has
no doubt been reflected on through the centuries by other worldlings
like me, who may not yet have penetrated the meaning of the 4NT.
Additionally, there seems to be a dismissive devaluing of the taking
of the lives of Unbelievers ... my understanding is that the Buddha
taught us to respect, have tolerance for, and care about those who
were followers of other teachers.

John, I think it concerns me the most that the speech is said to have
been made by an Arahant. Often if I am uncomfortable or puzzled
about anything in the Tipitaka, I put the concern aside hoping it
will be clearer in the future, consoling myself that the Tipitaka
bears the hallmark of approval of the Arahants. Perhaps this is
naivety ... I have a memory (can't turn up the post) of someone
stating that the Mahavamsa was examined and included in the Tipitaka
at the Sixth Buddhist Council in Burma in the fifties?
===============
Quote, with speech attributed to an Arahant:
"Only one and a half human beings have been slain here by thee, O
lord of men. The one had come unto the (three) refuges, the other had
taken unto himself the five precepts. Unbelievers and men of evil
life were the rest, not more to be esteemed than beasts. But as for
thee, thou wilt bring glory to the doctrine of the Buddha in manifold
ways; therefore cast away care from the heart, O ruler of men
(xxv.108-112)."
================

metta and peace,
Christine
---The trouble is that you think you have time ---

--- In Pali@yahoogroups.com, "rjkjp1" <rjkjp1@...> wrote:
> Dear John and all,
> What is incompatible in the mahavamsa with the Tipitaka?
> RobertK
> ---
>
> In Pali@yahoogroups.com, "John Kelly" <palistudent@...> wrote:
> > Dear Christine,
> >
> > Calling the Mahaava.msa "Buddhist scriptures" is a bit of a
> > stretch. I could be wrong, but I understood that this was a
later
> > chronicle developed in Sri Lanka, and not part of the canon at
all.
> > Certainly the sentiments expressed are not at all compatible with
> > anything else I've read in the canon.
> >
> > Metta,
> > John