[Buddha-l] Re: Natural lucidity for Socrates

[James A. Stroble]

On Saturday 09 September 2006 20:10, Dan Lusthaus wrote:
> Re: Re: [Buddha-l] Re: Natural lucidity for SocratesI
>
> If we want to keep the parlor game going, we might accuse these Jains of
> having poached the idea that we only need as much ground as we are standing
> on from Zhuangzi, who says the same thing. Or maybe Zhuangzi got it from
> them (or Alexander)?
>
> Dan Lusthaus

I want to express my joy and confusion at agreeing with both Dan and the 
Coyote, something I thought might never happen.   But the exchange has 
reminded me of reading a work by  Idres Shah on Sufism quite some time ago, 
wherein the author spend a long time arguing for the independent origination 
of ideas in different cultural milieus, so as to establish the bona fides of 
Sufism.  Immediately afterwords, however, he proceeds to show how all the 
central ideas of Western mysticism derive from the Sufi tradition. Ever since 
then, I have been rather suspicious of arguments for historical influence.  

On another note,  I have seen it suggested that Ammonius Saccus, the teacher 
of Plotinus, may have indeed been from the east, since Saccus may have been a 
Greek rendering Shakya (this from memory, might be wrong).  The more 
tradition explanation of Ammonius surname is that it refers to his 
profession, since he is alleged to have been a longshoreman in Alexandria.   
Given my preference for working-class philosophers (as opposed to royalty who 
never witnessed suffering until they were adult), I would go with the Sackkus 
interpretation.  

-- 
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ; ~ ) 
     J a m e s   ( A n d y )   S t r o b l e 
          H o n o l u l u ,   H I 
      h t t p : / / w w w 2 . h a w a i i . e d u / ~ s t r o b l e / 

:The right way to seize a philosopher. Crates, is by the ears: persuade me  
then and drag me off by them; but if you use violence, my body will be with 
you, but my mind with Stilpo."  Zeno of Citium, Diogenes Laertius, VII:24