Archive for February 2018
Buddha and Jesus on Wealth
Both the Buddha and Jesus viewed wealth as problematic in various respects, but their approaches differed in important ways due to their historical backgrounds and outlooks. We’ll consider both the views of the historical Jesus as well as those of the Buddha in order to compare and contrast their approaches. Suttas mentioned: Utilization (AN 5.41)…
Read MoreThe Buddha and Free Will
What might the Buddha have thought about free will? To answer that question we’ll look at the history of the concept in Western philosophy, and then consider how it applies to early Buddhism. We will find that the Buddha would have accepted a couple of related senses of the phrase. Suttas mentioned: The Characteristic of…
Read MoreThe Buddha's Charter of Free Inquiry
The Buddha’s discourse to the Kālāmas outlines a charter of free inquiry. It strikes us today as expressing a very modern approach to the world. We’ll look at how that is, and its down-to-earth take on ethics and knowledge. Kesaputtiya (the Discourse to the Kālāmas) Soma Thera: The Buddha’s Charter of Free Inquiry Check out…
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