Page 1 of 1

Quick Question - Curiosity about Buddha Nature

Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2010 12:37 am
by mudra
OK I lied. It's more than one question:

1. Can you count the threads on Buddha Nature you have read on multi sectarian Buddhist online forums off the top of your head?

2. Did it make it clearer to you when you read the usual debates as to whether it is The Buddha Within thing/just a potential/not relevant/the Buddha Never Said It?

3. Would you like to see more of these? or

4. Do you avoid them like the plague?


Feel free just to answer yes or no (with the Q number of course)....

Re: Quick Question - Curiosity about Buddha Nature

Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2010 1:01 am
by meindzai
mudra wrote:OK I lied. It's more than one question:

1. Can you count the threads on Buddha Nature you have read on multi sectarian Buddhist online forums off the top of your head?
No. :)

2. Did it make it clearer to you when you read the usual debates as to whether it is The Buddha Within thing/just a potential/not relevant/the Buddha Never Said It?
What's been made clear to me is that different traditions have different views on it, and some don't emphasize it or teach it at all. I personally do not believe the Buddha ever taught it.
3. Would you like to see more of these? or

4. Do you avoid them like the plague?
I find the discussions valuable and relevant in terms of buddhist scholarship and history. As practice goes I'm looking forward to hammering out these issues directly with a teacher.

-M

Re: Quick Question - Curiosity about Buddha Nature

Posted: Thu Apr 22, 2010 12:46 am
by mudra
Hi Meindzai -

in response to your responses:

1. we are in the same boat here

2. I agree that he most likely didn't teach it in quite that way

3. Would that not depend on which lineage your teacher was from?

Re: Quick Question - Curiosity about Buddha Nature

Posted: Thu Apr 22, 2010 1:12 am
by meindzai
mudra wrote:
3. Would that not depend on which lineage your teacher was from?
Yes. I currently don't have a teacher, but will be spending a month doing residency at Zen Mountain Monastery. After several years of studying and practicing theravada, it's going to be very interesting.

-M

Re: Quick Question - Curiosity about Buddha Nature

Posted: Fri Apr 23, 2010 6:51 am
by catmoon
mudra wrote: 1. Can you count the threads on Buddha Nature you have read on multi sectarian Buddhist online forums off the top of your head?
2. Did it make it clearer to you when you read the usual debates as to whether it is The Buddha Within thing/just a potential/not relevant/the Buddha Never Said It?
3. Would you like to see more of these?
4. Do you avoid them like the plague?
1. Nope
2. somewhat
3. Yup, it just happens to highly relevant to where I am on the path just now
4. No