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

**fil_nurser** · 11-23-2011, 11:15 AM

All schools of Buddhism accept the Nikayas/Agamas and the Vinaya as authentic. The later emergence and developments seem consistent with response to the changing cultural, social, and religious environments that Buddhism moved into.

In my very limited understanding, an important factor was a shift in the meaning of "the Buddha" -- from a historical person (who gave teachings within a particular lifespan) to a transcendent, cosmic figure (who continues to teach sentient beings in the myriad worlds).

However, it would be wrong to regard this simply as a later innovation, as there is some basis for it in the nikayas and it was likely taken up by followers in the years after Shakyamuni Buddha's parinirvana. The issues under debate here go back a long way!

11-23-2011, 11:15 AM	#34
fil_nurser Join Date Nov 2005 Posts 401 Senior Member	All schools of Buddhism accept the Nikayas/Agamas and the Vinaya as authentic. The later emergence and developments seem consistent with response to the changing cultural, social, and religious environments that Buddhism moved into. In my very limited understanding, an important factor was a shift in the meaning of "the Buddha" -- from a historical person (who gave teachings within a particular lifespan) to a transcendent, cosmic figure (who continues to teach sentient beings in the myriad worlds). However, it would be wrong to regard this simply as a later innovation, as there is some basis for it in the nikayas and it was likely taken up by followers in the years after Shakyamuni Buddha's parinirvana. The issues under debate here go back a long way!
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