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The old teaching vs the new buddhist monk`s teachings

Spirit of Light

Be who ever you want
I noticed that many buddhists today read a lot of the books published by monks of today. But my question how much do you study the old texts and gain wisdom from the old teaching from the time buddhism was written down instead of the books of today?

Personally i do not read the new books at all. but i have listen to some of Ajahn Brahm?s teaching via Youtube. But i find it to be not like the teaching of Sakyamuni in the suttas.

What do you prefere?
 

Spirit of Light

Be who ever you want
Respectfully, since I am not a Buddhist, I will admit that I am a bit leery of modern writers on spiritual topics, partly because there are so many.

That is ok :) I like when people from other Religions or spiritual paths come and join in the discussion :)
 

Unveiled Artist

Veteran Member
I noticed that many buddhists today read a lot of the books published by monks of today. But my question how much do you study the old texts and gain wisdom from the old teaching from the time buddhism was written down instead of the books of today?

Personally i do not read the new books at all. but i have listen to some of Ajahn Brahm?s teaching via Youtube. But i find it to be not like the teaching of Sakyamuni in the suttas.

What do you prefere?

I read the Pali text suttas. Sometimes I read the sutras such as The Lotus. I read Zen Mind Beginners Mind. That's a good book. I dont discriminate and I find the Pali text good since there is over a thousands lessons available. Accesstoinsight is a good site. Suttacentral, if you're looking for academic study with monks themselves.
 

Spirit of Light

Be who ever you want
Unveiled Artist, Thank you for your reply :) The website Access to insight is good yes :) Personally i read mostly the Digha Nikaya ( Long discourses of the buddha)
 

crossfire

LHP Mercuræn Feminist Heretic ☿
Premium Member
I read the suttas. I read the Zen texts. I also read Thich Nhat Hanh's books. I still get the most from reading the suttas.
 
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Yazata

Active Member
I noticed that many buddhists today read a lot of the books published by monks of today. But my question how much do you study the old texts and gain wisdom from the old teaching from the time buddhism was written down instead of the books of today?

It seems to me that one can do both.

I've read lots of Pali suttas (in translation, which introduces difficulties), but feel that it's difficult to do so without a commentary. There are thousands of suttas, arranged in no particular order, and many of them are rather technical or seemingly contradict others. Many are discourses delivered to particular people in particular situations over a period of many years.

And the suttas are suttas, they originally were little pieces of condensed and abbreviated teaching, compiled in the century or two after the Buddha's decease, presented in very mnemonic style to aid memorization, that include various formulae that recur over and over again that the monks could have been expected to recognize. The whole thing existed within the context of an extensive oral teaching. So in many cases the suttas seem to be memory aids intended to remind the early monks of teachings and ideas that they had already heard.

The problem for modern people, particularly those of us who aren't monastics, is to duplicate the intellectual context as best we can. That might not be not entirely possible for most of us in this day and age. That's why I feel that commentaries are useful. Ideally a commentary that addresses the suttas in terms of our modern cultural context.

There are certainly ancient commentaries, like Buddhaghosa's Visuddhimagga (around the 6th century CE?), but a modern commentary might be better for modern readers.

I personally like the commentary that Piya Tan is laboriously compiling in Singapore at the present time. It's already massive (thousands of pages, multiple volumes) and represents his life's work. I suppose that he falls into the category of 'modern monk', since he spent something like 20 years as a monastic in Thailand before returning to lay life. He goes at it sutta by sutta, organizing them by themes. He translates them, explains them and brings modern academic scholarship to bear on them when appropriate. (But unlike many professors, he never loses sight of the suttas' use in practice.)

You can track it down here.

The Dharmafarers | Suttas with commentaries (Early Buddhism)

An example

http://www.themindingcentre.org/dha...ds/2009/12/10.1-Bodhipakkhiya-Dhamma-piya.pdf
 

Srivijaya

Active Member
I noticed that many buddhists today read a lot of the books published by monks of today. But my question how much do you study the old texts and gain wisdom from the old teaching from the time buddhism was written down instead of the books of today?

Personally i do not read the new books at all. but i have listen to some of Ajahn Brahm?s teaching via Youtube. But i find it to be not like the teaching of Sakyamuni in the suttas.

What do you prefere?
A very good question. In my experience there are thousands of commentators out there with a wide variety of opinions, but at the end of the day, there's only one Buddha and his words are recorded in the suttas. I'm not passing judgement on new writers, as they are a mixed bag, but if you want to know what Buddha really taught, then go to the source.

Some contemporary commentators may even mix the teachings with modern systems in the belief that they are making them more 'relevant' or accessible. Again, set this against the source material and quite often there are surprising discrepancies. In reality, Buddha's teachings require the bare minimum of commentary. That commentary should always closely follow the original teachings and add nothing else in.

I realise that this may seem a bit fundamentalist, but as someone who was misled by dodgy teachings for years, I'd rather save other seekers the wasted time and point them in the right direction. It's up to everyone to judge afterwards but at least it should be an informed judgment.
 
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Spirit of Light

Be who ever you want
A very good question. In my experience there are thousands of commentators out there with a wide variety of opinions, but at the end of the day, there's only one Buddha and his words are recorded in the suttas. I'm not passing judgement on new writers, as they are a mixed bag, but if you want to know what Buddha really taught, then go to the source.

Some contemporary commentators may even mix the teachings with modern systems in the belief that they are making them more 'relevant' or accessible. Again, set this against the source material and quite often there are surprising discrepancies. In reality, Buddhas teachings require the bare minimum of commentary. That commentary should always closely follow the original teachings and add nothing else in.

I realise that this may seem a bit fundamentalist, but as someone who was misled by dodgy teachings for years, I'd rather save other seekers the wasted time and point them in the right direction. It's up to everyone to judge afterwards but at least it should be an informed judgment.
Totally agree with you :)
 

Twilight Hue

Twilight, not bright nor dark, good nor bad.
I noticed that many buddhists today read a lot of the books published by monks of today. But my question how much do you study the old texts and gain wisdom from the old teaching from the time buddhism was written down instead of the books of today?

Personally i do not read the new books at all. but i have listen to some of Ajahn Brahm?s teaching via Youtube. But i find it to be not like the teaching of Sakyamuni in the suttas.

What do you prefere?
I tend to like traditionalists who can break the mold without diluting the writings and teachings of their predecessors.

Particularly one ornery bulldog of a monk named Buddhadasa Bhikkhu of whom is viewed as very unusual for a Therevada monk. I'm very fond of his book, "A Handbook for Mankind".
 

Spirit of Light

Be who ever you want
I tend to like traditionalists who can break the mold without diluting the writings and teachings of their predecessors.

Particularly one ornery bulldog of a monk named Buddhadasa Bhikkhu of whom is viewed as very unusual for a Therevada monk. I'm very fond of his book, "A Handbook for Mankind".
I have not read anything of what he wrote, but as far as i know he was mixing some zen buddhism in to his theravada buddhism. I can not make critique of him on this because he is a lot more wise then my self :) but personally i would not mix other teachings in to the teravada teaching.
 

Samana Johann

Restricted by request
I noticed that many buddhists today read a lot of the books published by monks of today. But my question how much do you study the old texts and gain wisdom from the old teaching from the time buddhism was written down instead of the books of today?

Upasaka Amanaki,
the reason might be that the Buddha and his Noble disciples taught simply for release, not to bind much, not to entertain, and of cause "demand" and "supply" make a market, relations. What one tends to, seeks for, that is ones destination. Who goes after independency and release?

mudita
 

Spirit of Light

Be who ever you want
Upasaka Amanaki,
the reason might be that the Buddha and his Noble disciples taught simply for release, not to bind much, not to entertain, and of cause "demand" and "supply" make a market, relations. What one tends to, seeks for, that is ones destination. Who goes after independency and release?

mudita
Thank you for your reply Bhante :praying:
Yes i do agree with your words here.
 

Twilight Hue

Twilight, not bright nor dark, good nor bad.
There's always scope for that. When the teachings and the teacher are in harmony, then it's a win-win for the student.
That's why I found Buddhadasa Bikkhu so intriguing. He's a traditionalist, yet very unusual for a Theravada monk.
 

Spirit of Light

Be who ever you want
That's why I found Buddhadasa Bikkhu so intriguing. He's a traditionalist, yet very unusual for a Theravada monk.
I am actually reading a book about him right now :)
Buddhadása (theravada buddhism and modernist reform in thailand), it is written by Peter A. Jackson, so far it is interesting, because it is both Theravada but also Zen Buddhism in this book
 

Twilight Hue

Twilight, not bright nor dark, good nor bad.
I am actually reading a book about him right now :)
Buddhadása (theravada buddhism and modernist reform in thailand), it is written by Peter A. Jackson, so far it is interesting, because it is both Theravada but also Zen Buddhism in this book

You probably have heard how well us Zen folk and Theravada gets along together. Heh he.

It was probably during the worst Bushido match I've ever been on an internet forum.

I had blood coming out of my freakin ears and eyes because it was so toxic. Severed limbs, heads rolling around... Right out of a Kill Bill scene.

Anyways long story short, my second worst enemy in the battle throws "A Handbook for Mankind" by Buddhadasa Bhikkhu PDF. at my head causing horrendous damage all the while being flanked by his color commentary buddy.

After the battle was over and the ringing in my brain ceased, I reluctantly opened it and read it. He starts out like a typical Theravada bulldog ranting about 'true' Buddhism and all that, but damn....

The man resonated with me so well as I got more into it that his handbook now sits in my literary archives along with Dogen, The Blue Cliff Records, and of course the worst influence in my life, Brad Warner.
 
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