84,000 Teachings - A single Goal

TheDoctorDonna

According to Traditional Buddhist Beliefs , The Historical Buddha, realizing that there are many different types of people gave 84,000 types of Dharma Teachings to insure that each one of us would be able to work toward the ultimate goal of ending the suffering in our lives. This in turn lead to the formation of the 3 Yanas.

There has been much debate over the years as to the relative merits of each of the Yanas and how they are connected.

But are they really supposed to connect?

On a very basic level each of the Yanas is a pathway to ultimate Enlightenment , however the basic starting point as well as some of the methods are very different.

I am part of the Kaygu Lineage of Tibetan Buddhism because the teachings that are at the Heart of the Kaygu line resonant very strongly with me. On a personal level , other forms of Buddhism are not as appealing and I do not feel the same connection to them. At the same time, I very much respect other types of Buddhism and other faiths as well an am very happy that there are other schools of thought that are able to help people.

I certainly do not want to turn this thread into a Blog for my own thoughts, and would love to get feedback on this one basic thought…

Is there a need to connect the Teachings of the Yanas / Schools of Buddhism to a larger framework? And are the perceived discrepancies between some of the sutras etc important to discuss in a Spiritual / Historical context? Or, if one is satisfied that the Path that they are on is authentic should any conflicts in the Teachings be ignored as unimportant?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts !

TheJourney

EVERYTHING is a part of one framework. If something is really the ultimate truth, it must explain everything. Therefore, EVERYTHING is speaking of the same truth.

Simonthepilgrim

Imagine the truth as a great Jewel, many facets, reflecting the true light. Each of us will only see one or two facets.

genkaku

The Hindus suggest that if you want to dig a well, then dig one deep hole, not a hundred shallow ones. There is no imperative to have a round-nose or square-nose shovel; no imperative to be a man or a woman; no imperative to be a monk or a lay person ... just dig one deep hole. Digging takes determination, so be determined and don't get sidetracked. When you hit water, you can wax as lyrical or analytical as you like about the water here being the same or different from the water there, but whether separate or the same doesn't matter so much. What matters is that you can quench your thirst.

Just my two cents.

DhammaDhatu

in MN 37, the Buddha summed up all teachings into one teaching

Here, ruler of gods, a bhikkhu has heard that nothing is worth clinging to. When a bhikkhu has heard that nothing is worth clinging to, he directly knows everything; having directly known everything, he fully understands everything; having directly known everything, he fully understood everything, whatever feeling he feels, whether pleasant or painful or neither pleasant or painful, he abides contemplating (observing) impermanence in those feelings, contemplating (observing) fading away, contemplating (observing) cessation, contemplating (observing) relinquishment (letting go). Contemplating (observing) thus, he does not cling to anything in the world. When he does not cling, he is not agitated, he personally attains Nibbana. He understands: ‘Birth is destroyed, the holy life has been lived, there is no more coming to any state of being.’ Briefly, it is in this way, ruler of gods, that a bhikkhu is liberated in the destruction of craving, one who has reached the ultimate end, the ultimate security from bondage, the ultimate holy life, the ultimate goal, one who is foremost among gods and humans.

http://www.what-buddha-taught.net/Books9/Bhikkhu_Bodhi_Culatanhasankhaya_Sutta.htm

MindGate

in MN 37, the Buddha summed up all teachings into one teaching

Here, ruler of gods, a bhikkhu has heard that nothing is worth clinging to. When a bhikkhu has heard that nothing is worth clinging to, he directly knows everything; having directly known everything, he fully understands everything; having directly known everything, he fully understood everything, whatever feeling he feels, whether pleasant or painful or neither pleasant or painful, he abides contemplating (observing) impermanence in those feelings, contemplating (observing) fading away, contemplating (observing) cessation, contemplating (observing) relinquishment (letting go). Contemplating (observing) thus, he does not cling to anything in the world. When he does not cling, he is not agitated, he personally attains Nibbana. He understands: ‘Birth is destroyed, the holy life has been lived, there is no more coming to any state of being.’ Briefly, it is in this way, ruler of gods, that a bhikkhu is liberated in the destruction of craving, one who has reached the ultimate end, the ultimate security from bondage, the ultimate holy life, the ultimate goal, one who is foremost among gods and humans.

http://www.what-buddha-taught.net/Books9/Bhikkhu_Bodhi_Culatanhasankhaya_Sutta.htm

That's exactly it!! That is the truth! But hear what is being said. Really listen to what he is saying, without preconcieved notions. NOTHING is worth clinging too. Even your most base assumptions must be merely accepted for what they are, assumptions, and not do not cling to them. That means that you CANNOT say that you know the truth more than someone else, or else you're clinging to your truth. Non-clinging means equality of all things. Otherwise you're clinging to the "good."

federica

You sound so much like TheJourney, it's scary. :hrm:

Jason

Off-topic posts referring to TheJourney being banned have been removed. Please stop hijacking threads just to complain about site moderation; there's already one open for that.

federica

I concur.

upekka

EVERYTHING is speaking of the same truth.

True

Speaking for itself; anicca, dukka, anatta