XPost: talk.religion.buddhism, alt.zen, alt.philosophy.zen   
   XPost: alt.buddha.short.fat.guy   
   From: kimmerian@fastmail.fm   
      
   Catawumpus :   
      
   >>        In the Apannaka Sutta the Buddha teaches   
   >> what he calls "true dhamma," namely "There is actually the   
   >> next world," and _also_ gives a safe-bet argument for acting on   
   >> the assumption that's true.   
      
   oxtail :   
      
   > Why do you need to assume it when it is already known?   
      
        Why do you assume that it's already known?  Don't you read   
   the stuff you cut-and-paste?  The intro you quoted already   
   answered your question.  If you think that the Buddha is   
   offering knowledge, you'll probably accept his assertion "There   
   is actually the next world."  But maybe you don't feel   
   persuaded to believe him.  In that case his "safe-bet" teaching   
   might be more convincing to you.   
      
        Somehow you've talked yourself into thinking that since he   
   gives a "safe-bet" argument he can't possibly be saying   
   anything more.  But not so.  According to the sutta he declares   
   "There is actually the next world," calls saying "There is   
   actually the next world" right speech, contends the proposition   
   "There is actually the next world" is true dhamma, and so   
   forth.  Everything you deny is right there, plain as day in the   
   sutta.   
      
   -- Catawumpus   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)