Buddha's teachings that were meant to be made public "later"?

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Padmist
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Buddha's teachings that were meant to be made public "later"?

Post by Padmist »

It is said that Mahayana teachings are those that the Buddha taught to select disciples and/or are meant to be spread later on (hundreds of years later?), why is that? What were the conditions that made it not proper to make the teachings public right after the Buddha's parinirvana? What had to happen for the teachings to become available out and wide hundreds of years later?
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PadmaVonSamba
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Re: Buddha's teachings that were meant to be made public "later"?

Post by PadmaVonSamba »

During the time the Buddha was teaching, many of his followers attained realization, because the causes and conditions for that to occur existed.
2600 years later, even when the teachings are only a few clicks away on a computer or smart phone, it is very hard for people to attain realization. Why? Because the causes and conditions have changed.

As an analogy, consider pop art, such as the work of Andy Warhol. It happened in the 1960s, and although the 20th century art world was defined by many modern art movements, pop art simply could not have occurred before it did because the causes and conditions were not there.

Mahayana Pure Land followers maintain that in this time period (‘mappo’) beings cannot attain realization by their own efforts at all, but only through the compassion of Amitabha.

Vajrayana followers maintain that realization is attainable in this lifetime, or within the next few, but not without intense devotion and constant practice, often including intensive retreats and practices which are complicated compared with the practices of most Mahayana traditions.

In cultures where Theravada is widely practiced by the laity, anyone serious about enlightenment becomes a monk.
EMPTIFUL.
An inward outlook produces outward insight.
Padmist
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Re: Buddha's teachings that were meant to be made public "later"?

Post by Padmist »

Hmmm may I know where Mahayana question fits in to this?

Why Mahayana needs to be taught hundreds of years later and not during the time of Buddha?

Why teach the Hinayana path at all?
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PadmaVonSamba
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Re: Buddha's teachings that were meant to be made public "later"?

Post by PadmaVonSamba »

Padmist wrote: Tue Jan 26, 2021 2:18 am Hmmm may I know where Mahayana question fits in to this?

Why Mahayana needs to be taught hundreds of years later and not during the time of Buddha?

Why teach the Hinayana path at all?
The Mahayana teachings were taught during the time of the Buddha (at least according to the Mahayanists) even though a ‘split’ between Mahayana and Hinayana did t occur until later.

Also please note, the term ‘Theravada’ is not synonymous with ‘hinayana’.
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karmanyingpo
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Re: Buddha's teachings that were meant to be made public "later"?

Post by karmanyingpo »

Padmist wrote: Tue Jan 26, 2021 2:18 am Hmmm may I know where Mahayana question fits in to this?

Why Mahayana needs to be taught hundreds of years later and not during the time of Buddha?

Why teach the Hinayana path at all?
Based on what I have learned... There are different paths according to the 3 Turnings of the Wheel organization of the teachings (often talked about in Tibetan Buddhism) because the Buddha taught to different audiences with different backgrounds and inclinations. Different causes and conditions. Different things work well for different people, different things are appropriate for different people. Therefore different teachings to reach different people. https://www.rigpawiki.org/index.php?tit ... e_Turnings

KN
ma lu dzok pe san gye thop par shok!
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Aemilius
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Re: Buddha's teachings that were meant to be made public "later"?

Post by Aemilius »

Padmist wrote: Tue Jan 26, 2021 2:18 am Hmmm may I know where Mahayana question fits in to this?

Why Mahayana needs to be taught hundreds of years later and not during the time of Buddha?

Why teach the Hinayana path at all?
H

I think the case is that there was no Hinayana at all to begin with. Buddha taught a path leading to liberation, a path to the unconditioned mind, to the deathless mind that is vast and endless. Only later and gradually there arose a Hinayana understanding of these teachings, a Hinayana interpretation of these terms. This made it necessary for the Buddha to widen the perspective by teaching Mahayana clearly and explicitly.
svaha
"All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.
They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
Sarvē mānavāḥ svatantrāḥ samutpannāḥ vartantē api ca, gauravadr̥śā adhikāradr̥śā ca samānāḥ ēva vartantē. Ētē sarvē cētanā-tarka-śaktibhyāṁ susampannāḥ santi. Api ca, sarvē’pi bandhutva-bhāvanayā parasparaṁ vyavaharantu."
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 1. (in english and sanskrit)
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Aemilius
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Re: Buddha's teachings that were meant to be made public "later"?

Post by Aemilius »

A clarification to the above: Buddha uses the word Deathless as a synonym for Nirvana four times in the Dhammapada. It is Amata in pali and Amrita in sanskrit.
svaha
"All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.
They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
Sarvē mānavāḥ svatantrāḥ samutpannāḥ vartantē api ca, gauravadr̥śā adhikāradr̥śā ca samānāḥ ēva vartantē. Ētē sarvē cētanā-tarka-śaktibhyāṁ susampannāḥ santi. Api ca, sarvē’pi bandhutva-bhāvanayā parasparaṁ vyavaharantu."
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 1. (in english and sanskrit)
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