07-23-2010, 12:05 AM
"I am...the one who thinks, the one who perceives.' ~Gonzo
Ok, I can see now you attribute this to a direct Guatama quote and this seems to give your concept of thought credibility. But Gautama did not write anything down! It took between 300-400 years to get recorded scriptures, and before was oral traditions from disciples of disciples of disciples.
That why scholars today look for repetition of early recorded texts, hence, when there is overlap, they believe this reveals the direct teachings of Gautama if these various disciples are saying something very similar to each other.
You quote here back in your post #204:
"In regard dependant arising and equality of all things - I understand what you are saying. It's just that I take Gautama at his word, primarily because I like the idea. If he says, "With out [here you meant "our"] thoughts we make the world", I'm willing to take his word for it."
And yet Gonzo, we have no way of verifying this as Buddha's quote. He did not write anything down! Early texts are what we have to go by, and in early texts there are some commonalities they share so this is what comprises Buddha's original teachings to the best that can be compiled.
Ok, I can see now you attribute this to a direct Guatama quote and this seems to give your concept of thought credibility. But Gautama did not write anything down! It took between 300-400 years to get recorded scriptures, and before was oral traditions from disciples of disciples of disciples.
That why scholars today look for repetition of early recorded texts, hence, when there is overlap, they believe this reveals the direct teachings of Gautama if these various disciples are saying something very similar to each other.
You quote here back in your post #204:
"In regard dependant arising and equality of all things - I understand what you are saying. It's just that I take Gautama at his word, primarily because I like the idea. If he says, "With out [here you meant "our"] thoughts we make the world", I'm willing to take his word for it."
And yet Gonzo, we have no way of verifying this as Buddha's quote. He did not write anything down! Early texts are what we have to go by, and in early texts there are some commonalities they share so this is what comprises Buddha's original teachings to the best that can be compiled.