Qigong / Chinese Alchemy in East Asian Mahayana Buddhism?

Forum for discussion of East Asian Buddhism. Questions specific to one school are best posted in the appropriate sub-forum.
stong gzugs
Posts: 277
Joined: Mon Feb 07, 2022 2:58 am

Re: Qigong / Chinese Alchemy in East Asian Mahayana Buddhism?

Post by stong gzugs »

Malcolm wrote: Wed Mar 29, 2023 5:39 pm More like 1500, if we take the earliest composition circa 800 BCE. Śankara is circa 700 CE.
Yes, you're correct. We have the same dates, I just apparently forgot how to do basic math when writing my post :lol:
ronnymarsh wrote: Tue Mar 28, 2023 2:49 pm However, it is important to say that the whole Hindu perspective is later than the formation of Buddhism. At the time of the Buddha what existed was Brahmanism and the various opposing movements that we group together and call Sramanas.
On this question, we have to strike a balance between two mistakes: one mistake is back-projecting the modern notion of a unified Hinduism onto early history when it's inappropriate to do so (as you rightly note), the other mistake is ignoring the substantial continuities of core ideas from the Vedas to the Vedantic rishis of the sramana movement and forward from there. Joanna Jurewicz has done some great work on these continuities.

Regarding the latter mistake, the notion that Vedic rituals were devoid of philosophical meaning is an orientalist trope—often paired with the corresponding trope that the "real" early Buddhism wasn't a religion and didn't posit anything supernatural, but was simply some sort of rational philosophy or psychological intervention. Jurewicz's lovely analysis of the Rigveda's Nāsadīya Sūkta, for instance, shows how this key Vedic idea forms a key intellectual resource for the sramana movement both among the Vedantic rishis (who develop it) and for the Buddha (who reverses its meaning in his pratītyasamutpāda model).
Donny
Posts: 108
Joined: Thu Dec 20, 2018 8:53 pm

Re: Qigong / Chinese Alchemy in East Asian Mahayana Buddhism?

Post by Donny »

stong gzugs wrote: Thu Mar 30, 2023 3:58 am Jurewicz's lovely analysis of the Rigveda's Nāsadīya Sūkta, for instance, shows how this key Vedic idea forms a key intellectual resource for the sramana movement both among the Vedantic rishis (who develop it) and for the Buddha (who reverses its meaning in his pratītyasamutpāda model).
Thanks a lot for sharing! It's indeed a lovely analysis to read. Did you read her book "Invisible Fire Memory Tradition and the Self in Early Hindu Philosophy"? Is it readable for the non-indologist with only a very basic grasp of vedic literature?

:namaste:
"To the sharp weapons of the demons, you offered delicate flowers in return. When the enraged Devadatta pushed down a boulder to kill you, you practiced silence. Son of the Sakyas, incapable of casting even an angry glance at your enemy, what intelligent person would honor you as a friend for protection from the great enemy, fearful samsara?"
(Gendun Chopel)
stong gzugs
Posts: 277
Joined: Mon Feb 07, 2022 2:58 am

Re: Qigong / Chinese Alchemy in East Asian Mahayana Buddhism?

Post by stong gzugs »

Donny wrote: Sat Apr 01, 2023 9:29 am Thanks a lot for sharing! It's indeed a lovely analysis to read. Did you read her book "Invisible Fire Memory Tradition and the Self in Early Hindu Philosophy"? Is it readable for the non-indologist with only a very basic grasp of vedic literature?
PM sent. Happy to discuss more there to keep this thread on topic!
Post Reply

Return to “East Asian Buddhism”