[Buddha-l] Victimized Vegans?

[jkirk]

>....It seems to be easier to admit that everything went wrong (and
sometimes 

>even awfully wrong) after the Buddha than to actually look with a critical 

>eye at "the Buddha" himself. Hindu scholars and even HH Benedict XVI have 

>tried to be of some help, but to not much avail... ;-)  

> 

>Joy 

>==================== 

>Didn't Shankaracharya (8th c. CE) write a philosophical critique of 

>Buddhism? That's pretty early. What was the nature of his critique? I
haven't 

>tried to read him as yet. 

-------------

Hi Joanna,

 

I was thinking of a more critical attitude within Buddhism itself or among
specialists of Buddhism. A couple of years ago I watched a very interesting
documentary on the origins of Christianity ("Corpus Christi"), mainly
consisting of a critical reading of the sources by both Christian and Jewish
experts. It was absolutely fascinating.

-----------

I see—but since you referred to Hindu scholars and the Pope, I figured
Shankaracharya was an example of early post-Buddha critique by a Hindu.

However, since we don’t know what went on during the Buddha’s lifetime other
than what’s in the texts, and what’s in those is open to critique as well,
how do we know that “everything went wrong” after his death? Maybe the world
as lived by the people before, during, and after him was just as bad.  I
suspect that it was. The world historical record of moral improvement
doesn’t offer much consolation, does it?  

Joanna


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