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**pouslytut** · 08-28-2011, 05:16 PM

We may be working with conflicting definitions of 'reasoning

yes I wasn't aware you consider "reasoning" to mean "mental perceiving".

upon what direct personal experience do you base your denial of this possibility?

The reason why I don't think it is possible to gain complete cessation just through abstract thought is because it just doesn't fit in with what the suttas say about Nibbhana or the practice towards Nibbhna. I haven't come across statements like "Sariputta was sitting under a tree thinking about not-self and suddenly it struck him".

You don't have to personally realize the highest attainment to consider scriptural citations as "fact available to you at the moment" and go from there. How do Buddhist think Nibbhana is even possible before attaining it? This is what we all do when learning Dhamma. You listen to someone, take that upon faith, practice and verify it for yourself. I don't think we always have to base our statements on personal attainments and nothing else.

I'm not very fond of linguistic or doctrinal/scriptural hair-splitting.

Really? Considering your active, enthusiastic participation in the same I thought you were enjoying it.

08-28-2011, 05:16 PM	#21
pouslytut Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 527 Senior Member	We may be working with conflicting definitions of 'reasoning yes I wasn't aware you consider "reasoning" to mean "mental perceiving". upon what direct personal experience do you base your denial of this possibility? The reason why I don't think it is possible to gain complete cessation just through abstract thought is because it just doesn't fit in with what the suttas say about Nibbhana or the practice towards Nibbhna. I haven't come across statements like "Sariputta was sitting under a tree thinking about not-self and suddenly it struck him". You don't have to personally realize the highest attainment to consider scriptural citations as "fact available to you at the moment" and go from there. How do Buddhist think Nibbhana is even possible before attaining it? This is what we all do when learning Dhamma. You listen to someone, take that upon faith, practice and verify it for yourself. I don't think we always have to base our statements on personal attainments and nothing else. I'm not very fond of linguistic or doctrinal/scriptural hair-splitting. Really? Considering your active, enthusiastic participation in the same I thought you were enjoying it.
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