Dear Thomas Law and all
You wrote:
"I certainly do not consider your response is reasonable, as
suggested by Stephen Hodge."
You (and Stephen Hodge) are very welcome to express yourselves.
You also wrote:
"I suggest that the statement should present in this way:
... note how the text records/reports the Buddha repeated the
verb ....
or
... note how the Buddha in the text repeated the verb ....
This will show that you are reporting how the text says (not the
Buddha actually said)."
THANK you for your above suggestions. But, I find your style of
writing unnecessarily clumsy and wasteful.
So I will stick to my way of writing, which also indicates my belef
and confidence in the Pali texts at the same time.
I do not need to display any cautious, skeptical air in presenting
or discussing the teachings in the Pali Texts.
As I explained to you in my off-list letter and in my edited version
of that letter posted to this list, I reserve the right to express
my belief in the Buddha and his teachings as preserved in Pali
Tipt.taka.
I am a traditional follower of Gotama the Buddha, his Bhikkhu Sangha
and Pali Tipi.taka and the Standard Pali Commentaries.
As such, I do not see any reason why I cannot speak like a
traditional believer would.
If my way of speaking as a traditional believer offends you or other
non-believers, it is your and their business. You have to carry the
burden of solving your own problems. Such as not reading my posts in
future!
On my part, though, how you or others think about the Buddha, the
Theravada Bhikkhu Sangha and the Pali Tipi.tka by way of belief or
disbelief would not bother me at all. It is not my business!
However, if you or others speak about the Buddha, the Bhikkhu Sangha
and Pali Tipi.taka and Pali Commentaries in a disrespectful manner,
and if I am aware of it and have spare time, I may analyse them from
time to time.
So please watch out! :-) Do not allow yourself to be caught red-
handed critcizing or distorting Pali Tipi.taka and Pali
Commentaries. I may unleash and inflict Theravada analysis on such
disrespectful criticisms! This warning applies to Stephen Hodge as
well. :-)
With kind reagrds,
Suan Lu Zaw
________________________________
Thomas Law wrote:
Dear Suan and all,
Suan Lu Zaw stated in the message No. 5309:
"Please also note how the Buddha repeated the verb 'hoti' for each
menal associate."
I asked:
"How do you know that the Pali verb was actually spoken by the
Buddha?"
You replied to me in the message No. 5317. I certainly do not
consider your response is reasonable, as suggested by Stephen Hodge.
Please also pay attention to the teachings of Kalama Sutta. It states
objective principles and attitudes for studying various beliefs.
I suggest that the statement should present in this way:
... note how the text records/reports the Buddha repeated the
verb ....
or
... note how the Buddha in the text repeated the verb ....
This will show that you are reporting how the text says (not the
Buddha actually said).
Regards,
Thomas Law
--- In Pali@yahoogroups.com, "abhidhammika" <suanluzaw@...> wrote:
(The editied version of the off-list letter To Thomas Law)
Dear Thomas Law and all
How are you?
Thomas Law asked:
"How do you know that the Pali verb was actually spoken by the
Buddha?"
Abhidhamma Pi.taka is within Khuddaka Nikaaya. Nikaaya Pali texts
embody the words of the Buddha and his disciples who are Arahants.
What the Arahants teach are the same as those taught by the Buddha
in the sense that they are either the exact words or restatements of
the words of the Buddha.
This uniformity in words and meanings between the teachings of the
Buddha and his Arahant disciples is made possible by the Noble
Eightfold Path being followed and practiced exactly by them to
perfection.
Now, if you are questioning if Pali is the original language used by
the Buddha and his Arahant disciples, my answer is yes. How do I
know this? I know this because it is stated by the ancient Buddhist
masters in Pali texts. I believe them because I do not see any
reason why they would tell lies. Telling lies is against the Vinaya
rules, and Theravada ascetics follow the Pali Vinaya rules.
I hope that I have answered your question.
Suan Lu Zaw
PS - Are you a relative of BC Law, the great translator of Pali
texts published by the Pali Text Society?
--- In Pali@yahoogroups.com, "thomaslaw03" <thomaslaw03@...> wrote:
> Suan
>
> > Please also note how the Buddha repeated the verb 'hoti' for
each
> > menal associate.
> >
>
> How do you know that the Pali verb was actually spoken by the
Buddha?
>
> Thomas Law
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