Many of the examples referred in the ancient writings about Gautama’s speeches and teachings are read, and interpreted in what is considered as traditional Buddhism remains literal and are in everyday knowledge. These types of interpretations are wrong, or at least inaccurate, insofar as they do not take into account higher mental processes of rational thinking of an educated person and lack Dharma knowledge. Many times the true import of Gautama’s words can only be found in their metaphorical significance which is expressed in Dharma language. There seem to be an overlap, and thus giving possible confusion since the knowledge is second hand and not direct at certain points. This could be due to the fact that the text that we read is a translation of a text and that the original is still lacking. This means that both hermeneutic levels need to be considered in order to accurately understand Gautama’s teachings in their present form, “not just either one of them alone”. “If the religious officialdom does not effect a revolutionary renewal in Buddhism so that it becomes appropriate and relevant to today’s … civilization then the disintegration of Buddhism will become more clearly manifest everyday… “. In the Pali scriptures Gautama and his disciples often refer to celestial beings and to demons and the various levels of heavens and hells inhabited by these beings. These being and places are all taken as real by Buddhaghosa the creator of Pali Buddhism or Neo-Theravada in his text ‘Visuddhimaga’. However, Phra Buddhadassa claims that these can also be understood in a non religious way “As a person free of suffering, who is beautiful, lives in ease and is glorious” much as we today refer to a person as a ‘divine’. “If in this human world there are some people who need not work, be anxious or bear heavy burdens but who can continually relax, play and be at ease then, according to the above definition, they can be called divine (thewada). Moreover, if they obtain this status of ease for a few hours they may burn with worries and unease like beings in hell. When they work at tiring duties they are human. But in the hours they are sensually satisfied they are divine.” And he also says: “Heaven is in one’s breast, hell is in one’s mind, and nirvana exists in the human mind. Hence what is meant by the term “world” exists in the human mind.”
Posted on: Mon, 29 Dec 2014 10:51:23 +0000
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