Hmm... that does seem very probable.

I've the impression that in places where Buddhism has been around for a long time, the laity tend to think that only monks should do the teaching. This is probably partly due to the emphasis given by monks themselves to the laity that their work is to support the monks' material needs, thereby marginalise their engagement in other higher practices, learning and teaching. In a place where this has become accepted by the majority, when the sangha goes, Buddhism goes.

I wonder why this was not the case for Jainism?

Anyhow, this tells the importance of having lay people who are adequately well versed in the Dhamma. And we do have quite a number here in this group.

rejoicing,
kb

At 06:38 PM 03-07-05, Piya Tan wrote:

>If you read this paper, make special note of the sramonapasaka (s'rama,na + upaasaka),
>who effectively are lay teachers who quietly went on teaching the Jain Dharma while the
>Muslims ravage the country killing off Buddhism.
>
>The Sramanopasaka (besides the Jain monks) help preserve Jainism in India up to this
>day (unlike Buddhism which disappeared).
>
>Sukhi
>
>Piya
>
>Bankei wrote:
>
>> There is one paper that may be of interest in _Studies in the History
>> of Buddhism_ (Delhi: B.R. Publishing Corporation), edited by A.K.
>> Narain:
>> Jaini, Padmanabh S.
>> 1980 "The disappearance of Buddhism and the survival of Jainism: a
>> study in contrast,"
>>
>> It has been some years since I read this, and cannot remember the
>> details unfortunately.
>>
>> Regards
>>
>> Terry
>>
>> On 7/2/05, yifertw <yifertw@...> wrote:
>> > Dear Bhante and Dhamma friends,
>> > "Why Jainism and Hinduism survived after Muslim's invasion into
>> > nothern India, Buddhism, is superior than Jainism and Brahmans-Worship
>> > as described inside Buddhist society and Tipitaka, faced a serious
>> > dismission in India Continents?"
>> > This question is hi-lighted in a Panel discussion here, many answers
>> > delivered and not even close to an acceptable explanation. One of the
>> > scholars in this Panel discussion pointed out that the invasion into
>> > southern India is quite late, but the dismission of Buddhism still
>> > happened in that area.
>> > I assumed that senior members of Pali group may suggest a book list
>> > to read, it is fine. In addition to booklist, can someone to put a
>> > concise and precise comments which can be described in a single e-mail?
>> >
>> > Dear Yong Peng,
>> > This topic maybe falls out of the track again after the Curfew
>> > period. The reason why I do not want to raise this issue somewhere
>> > else for discussions, is " I do want to hear comments from Pali group".
>> > I have had enough of opinions from Mahayana group already.
>> > Yifer