[Buddha-l] Re: Disciple Count

[Kate]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Richard P. Hayes" <rhayes at unm.edu>
To: "Buddhist discussion forum" <buddha-l at mailman.swcp.com>
Sent: Thursday, June 23, 2005 2:30 PM
Subject: [Buddha-l] Re: Disciple Count


> On Thu, 2005-06-23 at 11:07 +1000, Kate wrote:
>
>> The problem with numbers used in Asian writings is that often they have
>> symbolic meanings.
>
> True. I have heard 84,000 explanations for why 108 is a sacred number in
> India. The one I like best is because it was a sacred number in Babylon.
> The Babylonians loved squares and cubes, and they were fascinated by 2
> squared times 3 cubed (4x27).

My favourite explanation for 108 is that 1+0+8 = 9, the 8 referring to the 
eight squares/halls of the mandala or 8 fold path and the ninth for the 
central square/enlightment or Buddhahood.  In the case of defilements or 
vices, having 108 of these gives a formula whereby the mention of something 
unpleasant (the defilements or vices) is automatically offset by the number 
9, and at the same time illustrates the way of overcoming these defilements 
being via the 8 squares/8 fold path to the central square.

This explanation conjures up visions of a group of monks huddled around, 
trying to come up with enough defilements to total 108.  After many days of 
thinking and deliberation, they make it.  Then one monk thinks of one 
more.........

Regards
Kate



>
> I am intrigued by the fact that the World Parliament of Religions opened
> on September 11, 1893, exactly 108 years before September 11, 2001. The
> earlier of these two events was called an event that rang the death
> knell of religious fanaticism. The second seems to have signified the
> resurrection of the corpse of religious fanaticism, which is alive and
> well and soon coming to a planet near you. But I digress.
>
>> Then, of course, they could mean that the Buddha had 1250 disciples and 
>> that
>> he taught for 45 years.
>
> A Buddhist text with a straightforward message? Not very likely. No, I
> think we have to rule out that literal interpretation as far-fetched in
> the extreme. Much more likely is that the figures are a numerological
> prediction of something really important, such as the birth of
> Nostradamus or the date (on the Mayan calendar) when the Hopi elders
> would spot the fire-breathing iron buffalo running past the mesas on the
> backs of two iron snakes, which signifies the end of history, preceded
> by five years, six months and seven days of Republican hegemony.
>
> -- 
> Richard Hayes
> http://www.unm.edu/~rhayes
>
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