[Buddha-l] Is Buddhism a Finished System?

[Katherine Masis]

David Kotschessa wrote:

"Buddhism as a "system" cannot be developed
further.  Nothing has been added to Buddhism since the
Buddha died.  In most cases the teachings have been
stripped down.  In other cases it has been pimped into
oblivion with symbols and colors and festivals and
chants.  But the system more or less remains in tact."

Is Buddhism a Finished System?  I should hope not. 
Systems are dynamic, open-ended processes that
interrelate with other systems.  Psychoanalysis grew
into a system larger than Freud, Christianity grew
into a system larger than Jesus of Nazareth, Buddhism
grew into a system larger than Siddhartha Gautama. 
Hopefully these and other systems will continue to
grow and develop.  Of course this is not a smooth
ride--systems can get messy and unpredictable, but
that is part of their open-endedness.

Katherine Masis
San José, Costa Rica




 
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