Originally Posted by TThor

Hi everybody!
When I first read the thread, I thought to myself, it is true, Buddhist masters always avoid debates, probably because silence is the eloquence of wisdom; in other words, "Truth" cannot be said in words, as we all know.

But then I remembered my friends who visited and lived in Buddhist monasteries in Asia and they told me that every day there were special gatherings were the monks would argue and test one another by questions on the doctrine. We see it also in different Buddhist movies.

I guess that there are moments to argue (and learn by argument), and moments to remain silent. Recognizing the one from the other is probably also part of being Awakened :smile:

Originally Posted by psychoslice

I think that is true, but i also feel that once one is truly Enlightened, then all arguments stop, not all Buddhist are truly Enlightened, if they were they wouldn't be a Buddhist, they would be the Buddha.

Originally Posted by Juanita

There are two distinct forms of Buddhism--Hinayana and Mahayana --within each are many branches and many sects.... One of these sects would simply tell you. "Suffer what there is to suffer, enjoy what there is to enjoy and continue chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo."...

Originally Posted by Juanita

There are two distinct forms of Buddhism--Hinayana and Mahayana

Originally Posted by TThor

Yes! These Hinayana and Mayahana are very important

Originally Posted by Samana

I wonder where you both got the "Hinayana" word from, because in truth, no such form of Buddhism exists.

Please read the information at the link "No Hinayana in Buddhism"

http://www.urbandharma.org/pdf/NoHinayana.pdf

excerpt from the text:

"For centuries, the reputation of the Conservative Buddhist schools had been stigmatized by the term “Hinayana”, used indiscriminately to label them. The Pali/Sanskrit word “Hinayana” means “low, undesirable, or despicable vehicle”. It is a contemptuous term coined by early Mahayanists to label all the early Conservative schools that did not subscribe to the Mahayana doctrine.,k,

There is no Hinayana in Buddhism. There never was. Hinayana is a false derogatory term. Today the law considers it as defamatory. Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike, are strongly advised to stop using it to describe any Buddhist school, whether existing or extinct.

There is no legal or moral justification in using this libellous term anymore!"


Kind regards,

Samana

Originally Posted by Samana

I wonder where you both got the "Hinayana" word from, because in truth, no such form of Buddhism exists.

Please read the information at the link "No Hinayana in Buddhism"

http://www.urbandharma.org/pdf/NoHinayana.pdf

excerpt from the text:
"For centuries, the reputation of the Conservative Buddhist schools had been stigmatized by the term “Hinayana”, used indiscriminately to label them. The Pali/Sanskrit word “Hinayana” means “low, undesirable, or despicable vehicle”. It is a contemptuous term coined by early Mahayanists to label all the early Conservative schools that did not subscribe to the Mahayana doctrine.

There is no Hinayana in Buddhism. There never was. Hinayana is a false derogatory term. Today the law considers it as defamatory. Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike, are strongly advised to stop using it to describe any Buddhist school, whether existing or extinct.

There is no legal or moral justification in using this libellous term anymore!"
Kind regards,
Samana

Originally Posted by Juanita

Buddhism has always fallen into two schools of opinion and belief, altho Hinayana meaning lesser vehicle, has mostly fallen by the wayside and Theravada has taken it's place, especially in S.E. Asia....Mayahana, the great vehicle, remains the prevalent Buddhism of today.....Sorry, but you cannot change history.....