DiscussWorldIssues - Socio-Economic Religion and Political Uncensored Debate - View Single Post - Debating origins of Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism

**MiniBoy** · 08-26-2010, 04:07 PM

Originally Posted by Aloka-D This is the debating forum for experienced practitioners not for Jan's question and answer sessions!

- lol .... Thanks. This was my understanding as well, an oral tradition, initially, although given so much weight to the Pali Canons gave me the impression that there was quicker righting up. So all answers to my questions seem to have to be answered negatively. The suttas with all there repetition, it is often argued, were especially designed for easy memorisation, and are therefore, likely to be at least different in that respect to the Buddha's literal words during sermons.

Not all traditions, by the way, read suttas as part of there practice. And not all traditions necessarily meditate a lot throughout there practice. Some years ago, my teacher invited a monk in his early/mid twenties to our retreat. He had sponsored him from the age of eight. We were surprised, however, that the monk didn't know how to meditate. The training in northern India up to that point had consisted of Sutta recitation and memorisation only, not of meditation. So you see there are some interesting differences.

Metta

PS I hope I didn't ask these questions in a teacher type of way. I am not a Buddhist scholar, just a simple practitioner and I am under the impression that many people here have done a considerable amount of research from which I am benefitting.

08-26-2010, 04:07 PM	#5
MiniBoy Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 495 Senior Member	Originally Posted by Aloka-D This is the debating forum for experienced practitioners not for Jan's question and answer sessions! - lol .... Thanks. This was my understanding as well, an oral tradition, initially, although given so much weight to the Pali Canons gave me the impression that there was quicker righting up. So all answers to my questions seem to have to be answered negatively. The suttas with all there repetition, it is often argued, were especially designed for easy memorisation, and are therefore, likely to be at least different in that respect to the Buddha's literal words during sermons. Not all traditions, by the way, read suttas as part of there practice. And not all traditions necessarily meditate a lot throughout there practice. Some years ago, my teacher invited a monk in his early/mid twenties to our retreat. He had sponsored him from the age of eight. We were surprised, however, that the monk didn't know how to meditate. The training in northern India up to that point had consisted of Sutta recitation and memorisation only, not of meditation. So you see there are some interesting differences. Metta PS I hope I didn't ask these questions in a teacher type of way. I am not a Buddhist scholar, just a simple practitioner and I am under the impression that many people here have done a considerable amount of research from which I am benefitting.
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