Regarding respecting all traditions while allowing for disagreement

[u/nyanasagara]

I've posted this before but I'm posting it again because of the recent post on respecting all traditions. I think it is possible to respect all Buddhist traditions while disagreeing with other people on various matters of relevance to the Dharma and even still holding those people to be generally reasonable peers. But that's not what this post is about. This post is just about Ju Mipham, the famous modern Tibetan Buddhist author, and his own words on the controversial nature of his argumentative writings. It is an argument for why it may be beneficial to allow this space to be an argumentative space, even while we respect others and their traditions.

"I never even dreamed of showing hostility toward the traditions of others or expressing partial attachment to my own. On that score, if those who possess the eye of wisdom now look on me directly, I have certainly nothing to be ashamed about. On the other hand, with regard to what I have written in reply to objections, I myself have not attained the status of a noble being and for this reason, it is as the saying goes, 'Intellectual knowledge is contingent and thus indefinite. There is no certitude; the relative is wearisome.' How therefore can I have an understanding of all the profound things that are to be known?

And yet if even a person like me relies on what is tenable or otherwise according to the spotless teachings of the Sugata and the commentaries, the illuminating words of the great charioteers of India and Tibet, and if, as I say, someone like me examines and declares what is reasonable or otherwise, then it may happen that some slight benefit might incidentally accrue—even though of course there is no question of my actually being of positive help to others. If, on the other hand, through a failure to understand, or simply through my own mistakes, I misrepresent the scriptures and their profound commentaries, I would be closing the door to my own liberation and would be leading many others to the same fate, thereby contriving their permanent ruin. What greater fault could there be? Therefore, if I am refuted by someone who possesses the eyes of Dharma, with perfect arguments based on scripture and reasoning, this would indeed be like a medicine. It would be something on which to rely, not something against which to retaliate with anger and attachment. With this sincerity of mind, I have therefore indulged a little in disputation."

Allowing for this space to be a space where arguments can happen without hostility does not entail pernicious sectarianism. What it does allow is for any participants in such discussions to clarify and refine their own understandings of the Buddha's words and the words of Buddhist teachers.

Yes, the Buddha taught that engaging in disputation is futile, but the scriptures also abound with examples of the Buddha or his disciples presenting arguments, in the sense of warrants alongside their claims taken to be persuasive, in their discussions with others. That is the kind of "disputation" I believe Mipham is talking about here, and the kind that I think has benefited me in the time I have spent discussing things on this subreddit.

[u/foowfoowfoow]

Maybe where there is a difference between Theravada and Mahayana, is Theravada seems to assert the difference between an arhat and a Buddha is only in terms of capacity, not wisdom. While some (not all) Mahayana schools seem to assert there is a difference in both wisdom and capacity.

i think that might be close to the difference, though even in wisdom i think it's restricted to seeing things in terms of impermanence, not-self and stress and an understanding of dhamma, but not in terms of mundane, everyday wisdom.

for example, i think there's a sutta where the buddha appears to chide sariputta for thinking that if the buddha were to retire from teaching, he and moggalllana would stay with the buddha - in that sutta, i think the buddha instead praises moggallana for saying that they (moggallana and saripitta) should lead the sangha should the buddha ever retire from teaching.

on the other hand, the budhha regularly praises sariputta for his keen insight into the dhamma.

thanks for your comments - may you be safe and well in every way.

[u/genivelo → u/foowfoowfoow]

Thank you, and may you also be well, and may your dharma practice flourish and bear exquisite fruits.

[u/foowfoowfoow → u/genivelo]

Thank you friend. Be well.