/lit/ - Literature

[Anonymous No.10159138]

>He who, having cast off likes and dislikes, has become tranquil, is rid of the substrata of existence and like a hero has conquered all the worlds — him do I call a holy man.

>He who in every way knows the death and rebirth of all beings, and is totally detached, blessed and enlightened — him do I call a holy man.

>He whose track no gods, no angels, no humans trace, the arahant who has destroyed all cankers — him do I call a holy man.

>He who clings to nothing of the past, present and future, who has no attachment and holds on to nothing — him do I call a holy man.

>He, the Noble, the Excellent, the Heroic, the Great Sage, the Conqueror, the Passionless, the Pure, the Enlightened one — him do I call a holy man.

>He who knows his former births, who sees heaven and hell, who has reached the end of births and attained to the perfection of insight, the sage who has reached the summit of spiritual excellence — him do I call a holy man.

When did you realize scripture is the highest form of literature produced by humanity?

[Anonymous No.10160524]

foreword by duncan goodhew

[Anonymous No.10160688]

>>10159138
>When did you realize scripture is the highest form of literature produced by humanity?
This is a translation of some versed in the chapter 26 of the Dhammapada/Dharmapada, it was oral tradition, nor "scripture" neither "literature". Then it got written down circa the time of Emperor Asoka, 300-400 years after the historical Buddha.

Verse 19 and 20 of the same Dhammapada/Dharmapada also states:

>Though he recites much the sacred words, but is negligent and does not practice according to the the teachings, like a cowherd who counts the cattle of others, he has no share in the benefits of the life of a renunciant

>Though he recites only a little of the Sacred Words , but practices according to the Teachings, eradicating passion, ill will and ignorance, clearly comprehending the teachings, with his mind freed from moral defilements and no longer clinging to this world or to the next, he shares the benefits of the life of a renunciant

So again, those words are not to be taken as "Literature" for the simple aesthetic savouring of "scriptures".

Anyway, The Teachings are important, but their importance are way beyond mere "Literature", they have practical, ontological and soterology purposes out of the mere reach of words and concepts.

In the discourse to Vakkali it is stated:

>"For a long time, Lord, I have wanted to come and set eyes on the Blessed One, but I had not the strength in this body to come and see the Blessed One."

>"Enough, Vakkali! What is there to see in this vile body? He who sees The Teachings, Vakkali, sees me; he who sees me sees The Teachings. Truly seeing The Teachings, one sees me; seeing me one sees The Teachings."

Hence pointing directly to the true nature beyond name-concepts(words) and thing-concepts(materiality).

PD: IMHO for those interested, The debate of King Milinda is a good introductory book for those with a western philosophy background about all this important topics about the nature of being.

[Anonymous No.10160718]

>Maketh his round by the south, and turneth again to the north: the spirit goeth forward surveying all places round about, and returneth to his circuits. All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea doth not overflow: unto the place from whence the rivers come, they return, to flow again. All things are hard: man cannot explain them by word. The eye is not filled with seeing, neither is the ear filled with hearing. What is it that hath been? the same thing that shall be. What is it that hath been done? the same that shall be done. Nothing under the sun is new, neither is any man able to say: Behold this is new: for it hath already gone before in the ages that were before us.

[Anonymous No.10160721]

>>10159138
t. guy whose life is supported by the working class

[Anonymous No.10160723]

>>10160721
t. guy whose life is supported by the working class

[Anonymous No.10160746]

>>10160723
flustered?

[Anonymous No.10160761]

>>10160688
well fuck me for making this thread then

[Anonymous No.10160762]

>>10160723
t. guy whose DICK is supported by dey NUTS n BALLSACK

[Anonymous No.10160764]

>>10160762

[Anonymous No.10160770]

>>10160764
t. guy whose MEMES are supplied by REDDIT and TUMBLR