Dear DC,

1. thank you for all your participation and contribution to our discussions. I hope you will continue to enjoy the messages from our members. As a member, you also have access to the web features on Yahoo! Groups. (You require a Yahoo! ID to access these online features.)

2. I do not refer to anyone in this discussion when I said the following:

"I'm not referring to *someone* who ain't know nuttin' about Buddhism."

My sincere apologies if that made you felt uncomfortable.

3. When the Buddha accepted Upali as his direct disciple, the Blessed One was telling everyone that the Dhamma is not reserved to some privileged class of people. Again, if you felt I was directing the sentence to you, I am sorry but I was not. Otherwise, I urge you to be more open to harmless statements.

4. What you said about the 4NT and Dependent Origination exactly echos my personal opinion.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Pali/message/13988

In Dhammacakkappavattana, the Buddha's maiden sermon, we learnt about the Middle Way, the Four Noble Truths, and the underlying theme of Dependent Origination. I believe these are the principal teachings of the Buddha.

5. If you said you do not believe in the Buddhist doctrine of rebirth, I can absolutely respect it, no drama. However, you said you have never heard of the Buddhist doctrine of rebirth. I wonder if you have read Stephen Batchelor.

6. A misconception remains a misconception until people discuss and clarify doubts. A person completely new to Buddhism certainly needs to start with the very basics. However, no matter how profound and significant the teachings of 4NT and Dependent Origination are, the study of Buddhism extends beyond these key teachings.


metta,
Yong Peng.

--- In Pali@yahoogroups.com, DC Wijeratna wrote:
>
> To the Group
> Quote:
> "I'm not referring to *someone* who ain't know nuttin' about Buddhism.
> Rather I am referring to a person who already have some basic
> understanding of the Buddha's teachings, he would have known the
> distinctions between rebirth and reincarnation, but want to have a
> fuller and deeper appreciation of the Buddhist doctrine of rebirth.
> Perhaps, there are already some good books and articles out there which
> cover the topic in details.
>
> metta,
> Yong Peng.
>
> --- In Pali@...
> com, DC Wijeratna wrote:
>
> A systematic study into the teaching of 'araha.m sammaasambuddho' must
> commence with the the Four Noble Truths, and if one wishes to go deeper
> into 'pa.ticcasamuppaado idappaccayataa. ' This is the dhamma that he
> became (adhigama) on attaining 'sammaasambodhi. ' Unqoute.
> +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
> ""I'm not referring to *someone* who ain't know nuttin' about Buddhism."
> We call above type of language 'slang' and associate it with the uneducated who come from slum areas. We never use such language in dhamma discussions. I reject it totally an unequivocally.
>
> Inspite of that, where could one start a systematic study into the teaching of the 'Araha.m Sammaasambuddho' except the Cattaari Ariyasaccaani (Four Ariyan Truths) and Pa.ticcasmuppaado.
>
> I personally do not have what is called a 'basic understanding' of reincarnation or rebirth.
> Nor have I ever heard of a Buddhist doctrine of rebirth.
>
> Shall be very grateful if some member can teach me how to understand reincarnation and rebirth.
> By the way the Buddha never taught any 'doctrines'.
>
> D. G. D. C. Wijeratna