[giftplas]

Hi fojiao2. I don't know what does this phrase means. What is to eat eggplant?

Eggplant is a kind of vegetable. I could have said Durian.

[raspirator]

Those adornments are the outcome of mind entanglements around a teaching and represent an unnecessary sophisticated elaboration of Dhamma; they are a reflection of that and if we are not aware, the original purpose can be corrupted. This adornments, like the statues and temples you talk about, are cultural elaborations that are full of symbols that are neither good nor bad but veil the direct understanding; they represent mental fabrications and in an unaware mind, they work as noise to the direct contemplation and clear insight.

My point is that whilst they may be a distraction for one person they may not be for another. Simply because there are traditions that one person may not relate to, this does not mean that for someone else, they can't provide a connection on a very profound level. Furthermore, there is more to Pali Dhamma than the four noble truths and meditation. The Abhidhamma Pitaka is a good example of a lot of very complicated stuff. This could certainly be distracting to someone who is mainly practicing a calm mind under a tree. Yet, it is part of the Pali Canon. It is these teachings on the nature of the mind and of phenomena which developed into different and often conflicting schools of thought over 2500 years. I think it actually says a lot for the teachings of the Buddha, that there has been so much to work with, in so many ways, for all kinds of people. "Complicated" is really only a point of view. He gave us a lot to work with.

[RildFiemodo]

The Abhidhamma Pitaka is a good example of a lot of very complicated stuff. This could certainly be distracting to someone who is mainly practicing a calm mind under a tree. Yet, it is part of the Pali Canon

Regarding Abhidhamma:

Scholars generally believe that the Abhidharma emerged after the time of the Buddha, to around the third century BCE. Therefore the seven Abhidhamma works are generally claimed by scholars not to represent the words of the Buddha himself, but those of disciples and great scholars. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abhidharma
There are threads in our Theravada forum debating its relevance to the suttas, which might be of interest and could be continued -and its worth checking the video.

http://www.buddhismwithoutboundaries...ght=abhidhamma


http://www.buddhismwithoutboundaries...later-addition

[MgpojuWy]

Do you regard all later commentaries and opinions regarding the Buddha's teachings unnecessary elaborations?

[citalopram]

Do you regard all later commentaries and opinions regarding the Buddha's teachings unnecessary elaborations?

No, why would I ?....and I haven't read or heard them all anyway, so that's rather a strange question !

However, anything that I do read or hear that seems a huge departure from the Buddha's teachings in the Pali Canon and which doesn't make good sense to me regarding my practice these days, I set aside as irrelevant to my own personal needs.

How about you ?

[xochgtlm]

My point is that whilst they may be a distraction for one person they may not be for another. Simply because there are traditions that one person may not relate to, this does not mean that for someone else, they can't provide a connection on a very profound level.

Yes, I agree.

Furthermore, there is more to Pali Dhamma than the four noble truths and meditation.

Four Noble Truths are of outstanding importance for the practice of the teachings of the historical Buddha. A careful and dedicated study of them along with constantly meditative practice in all spheres of our life gives the very core of the means to cessation of Dukkha. All the teachings of the historical Buddha left in the Pali Canon are careful enlargements of the Noble Truths; in some way it is like the DNA of "living" beings.

"Complicated" is really only a point of view.

We are the ones that have make complicated the teachings of the historical Buddha. IMO some of the cultural constructs are there, perhaps, to turn over some of the teachings of the historical Buddha and others can be found unnecessarily.

He gave us a lot to work with.

True, that is why I think there is no need for more. With what he left in the Pali Canon is enough.