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**JTS_tv** · 06-08-2010, 06:25 AM

Yes, I think so. Imo, those who attempt to lock the Dharma into a narrow, static, and rigid interpretation of what they believe is the _true words_ of the Buddha are steering Buddhism very far away from the intent and purpose of the teachings commonly attributed to a historical Buddha.

Sounds like a transparent smoke screen for obfuscating and distorting the Buddha's teachings.

Let us keep in mind that all traditions that call themselves "Buddhist" take the Buddha's words in the Nikayas as authoritative, and as the _true words_ of the Buddha, no matter how badly they might misapprehend them. This garbage of "Oh, we don't know if the Nikayas are really the words of the Buddha" is an obscrantist red herring.

What passes for "Buddhism" today does not even consider the Buddha's own liberative teachings as anything even remotely important; it concerns itself with superstitions and speculative views that long preceded the Buddha, and which have now largely replaced, ignored and discarded the Buddha's liberative teachings.

"Modern" Buddhism -- if that is taken to mean what is preposterously and laughably now being derided by "traditionalists" as "Nikaya-only heresy" -- is concerned with the Buddha's liberative teachings and concerns itself with these teaching, which the Buddha himself demonstrated rendered superstitions and speculative views irrelevant.

06-08-2010, 06:25 AM	#3
JTS_tv Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 572 Senior Member	Yes, I think so. Imo, those who attempt to lock the Dharma into a narrow, static, and rigid interpretation of what they believe is the _true words_ of the Buddha are steering Buddhism very far away from the intent and purpose of the teachings commonly attributed to a historical Buddha. Sounds like a transparent smoke screen for obfuscating and distorting the Buddha's teachings. Let us keep in mind that all traditions that call themselves "Buddhist" take the Buddha's words in the Nikayas as authoritative, and as the _true words_ of the Buddha, no matter how badly they might misapprehend them. This garbage of "Oh, we don't know if the Nikayas are really the words of the Buddha" is an obscrantist red herring. What passes for "Buddhism" today does not even consider the Buddha's own liberative teachings as anything even remotely important; it concerns itself with superstitions and speculative views that long preceded the Buddha, and which have now largely replaced, ignored and discarded the Buddha's liberative teachings. "Modern" Buddhism -- if that is taken to mean what is preposterously and laughably now being derided by "traditionalists" as "Nikaya-only heresy" -- is concerned with the Buddha's liberative teachings and concerns itself with these teaching, which the Buddha himself demonstrated rendered superstitions and speculative views irrelevant.
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