XPost: talk.religion.buddhism, alt.zen, alt.philosophy.zen   
   XPost: alt.buddha.short.fat.guy   
   From: oxtail@nowhere.org   
      
   Catawumpus wrote:   
      
   > 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.   
      
      
   Are you familiar with the difference   
   between holding and dictum?   
      
   --   
   Oxtail is not doing what he thinks he is doing here.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)