DiscussWorldIssues - Socio-Economic Religion and Political Uncensored Debate - View Single Post - Mahayana and Theravada? Which did Shakyamuni teach? (my opinion)

**ChebuRAtoR** · 11-23-2011, 09:40 AM

Greetings Lazy Eye,

As various scholars have proposed, however, the early Mahayanists -- or, rather, the various groups of monks and nuns out of which Mahayana developed -- likely took it as a given that a meditator can attain visionary states in which the Buddha appears and provides teachings.

Then, in the interests of integrity, just like the Elders said "Thus have I heard", they too should say "Thus has been revealed to me in a vision" or so forth. At least that would be honest (even if potentially delusional).

Since they didn't, any retrospective scholarly justification for these actions is mere apologetics... defending "tradition".

Metta,
Retro.

11-23-2011, 09:40 AM	#25
ChebuRAtoR Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 536 Senior Member	Greetings Lazy Eye, As various scholars have proposed, however, the early Mahayanists -- or, rather, the various groups of monks and nuns out of which Mahayana developed -- likely took it as a given that a meditator can attain visionary states in which the Buddha appears and provides teachings. Then, in the interests of integrity, just like the Elders said "Thus have I heard", they too should say "Thus has been revealed to me in a vision" or so forth. At least that would be honest (even if potentially delusional). Since they didn't, any retrospective scholarly justification for these actions is mere apologetics... defending "tradition". Metta, Retro.
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