tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26177615.post1641852828416150156..comments2023-10-20T18:47:34.841+07:00Comments on Religion, Sex & Politics: Born Aware? Or Just Bad to the Bone?Dr. Willhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09788468231312646543noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26177615.post-19097394901623441712009-06-10T09:35:21.698+07:002009-06-10T09:35:21.698+07:00Hi Will,
Of course the other great difference (th...Hi Will,<br /><br />Of course the other great difference (though it boils down to the same thing!) is that the Mahayana has the emptiness teachings.<br /><br />By seing that all is emptiness, the Therevadan view is trancended entirely. Thus there is much less empahasis (as another questioner mentioned) on the 4NTs and the 8NP.<br /><br />As the Heart Sutra puts it: <br /><br />"Nor is there pain or cause of pain or cease in pain or noble path to lead from pain, not even wisdom to attain, attainment too is emptiness."<br /><br />Which leads to the idea of emlightenment here and now, in this very life, accessible to all. Very different to the Therevadan view.<br /><br />(Of course, emptiness = Buddha-nature).<br /><br />All the best Will,<br /><br />MarcusAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26177615.post-88154526678279579332009-06-09T17:43:38.534+07:002009-06-09T17:43:38.534+07:00Very interesting analysis.
I always simplistically...Very interesting analysis.<br />I always simplistically thought the difference was merely that Mahayana's were the evangelists, whereas the Theravadan's were happy to leave each person to 'work on themselves'.<br /><br />You've added another layer by taking it back to different views of human nature, although I still come down on the Theravadan side of that debate (must be the misanthrope in me:)hobbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04251478382712113226noreply@blogger.com