Hi,

Sakkapanha Sutta is available here:
http://www.buddhistinformation.com/ida_b_wells_memorial_sutra_library/sakkapanha_sutta.htm

> So now we know what really happened to those prophets who claim to have received revelations from a god. What really happened, was that a poor, bewildered god was out there, looking for answers and explanations. And the "prophets" just misunderstood the whole situation!<

1. The sutta did not say "those prophets" but "other priests and contemplatives".

2. Sakka said, "So I taught them the Dhamma as far as I had heard and mastered it...." The sutta also said Sakka claimed to be a "stream-winner"

I have several questions:

a. What does it mean by "Dhamma" here? I doubt that it refered to Buddha's dhamma. It says "as far as I had heard and mastered it" If not, Sakka wouldn't be asking those questions to the Buddha.

b. Did Sakka become Sakka after asking the Buddha those questions or before? My guess is after having asked those questions. If he was already a stream-winner, I don't see why he have to asked those questions.

3. The "prophets" that came after Buddha ie. Jesus, Muhammad etc. definitely did not received revelation from Sakka. A possibility is that they received it from other gods. (In Islam, Jesus is considered a prophet, whereas in Christianity, Jesus is God Himself [son of God]) then, of course there is a question whether they really did received revelation. And if they received, what is revealed and how much is added? See http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/denis_giron/multiple.html

>So the theists of the world are disciples of god, and god is a disciple of the Buddha ..... :-)))))<

So, I think the "theist of the world" is not so correct. The god that gave revelations to those prophets might not be A Buddhist in the first place.

>I can't help feeling that the story in the Sakkapanhasutta was told as a joke, although a joke with a deeper and more serious meaning.<

I don't think it's a joke.

Best wishes,

Rahula








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