Comments on: Reading and Interpreting Scriptures and Sayings… http://www.saltwetfish.net/journal/2006/03/28/reading-and-interpreting-scriptures-and-sayings/ Fishing for more thoughts... Thu, 20 Nov 2008 15:05:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: kelvinw http://www.saltwetfish.net/journal/2006/03/28/reading-and-interpreting-scriptures-and-sayings/#comment-1621 kelvinw Mon, 03 Apr 2006 17:17:13 +0000 http://www.saltwetfish.net/journal/posts/134#comment-1621 Hi Bodhiwater, thanks for that additions. Hi Bodhiwater,

thanks for that additions.

]]> By: Bodhiwater http://www.saltwetfish.net/journal/2006/03/28/reading-and-interpreting-scriptures-and-sayings/#comment-1526 Bodhiwater Thu, 30 Mar 2006 04:03:10 +0000 http://www.saltwetfish.net/journal/posts/134#comment-1526 Recognizing that the Brahmin used Sanskrit to maintain power, the Buddha asked that the teachings be given in the languages of the local peoples, so as you say, we cannot be sure of his exact words. He did leave us with 4 steps for scriptural analysis. 1. don't rely on only the person but on the docrtine 2. don't rely just on words of doctrine, but on meaning 3. don't rely just on meaning requiring interpretation but on meaning that is defitive 4. for definitive meaning, don't rely on dualistic interpretation, but on direct perpection of truth. Recognizing that the Brahmin used Sanskrit to maintain power, the Buddha asked that the teachings be given in the languages of the local peoples, so as you say, we cannot be sure of his exact words. He did leave us with 4 steps for scriptural analysis.
1. don’t rely on only the person but on the docrtine
2. don’t rely just on words of doctrine, but on meaning
3. don’t rely just on meaning requiring interpretation but on meaning that is defitive
4. for definitive meaning, don’t rely on dualistic interpretation, but on direct perpection of truth.

]]> By: kelvinw http://www.saltwetfish.net/journal/2006/03/28/reading-and-interpreting-scriptures-and-sayings/#comment-1513 kelvinw Tue, 28 Mar 2006 16:07:40 +0000 http://www.saltwetfish.net/journal/posts/134#comment-1513 Hilton, I am glad that it was helpful. metta Kelvin Wong Hilton, I am glad that it was helpful.

metta
Kelvin Wong

]]> By: Hilton http://www.saltwetfish.net/journal/2006/03/28/reading-and-interpreting-scriptures-and-sayings/#comment-1508 Hilton Tue, 28 Mar 2006 11:13:34 +0000 http://www.saltwetfish.net/journal/posts/134#comment-1508 Thank you for posting the Thich Nhat Hanh quote. Especially this part: "Yet many many people (gay people, esp) I know would just carry this heavy heavy heart with them around and choosing only to believe that they are the problem instead of the teachings." Really helped! Thank you for posting the Thich Nhat Hanh quote. Especially this part: “Yet many many people (gay people, esp) I know would just carry this heavy heavy heart with them around and choosing only to believe that they are the problem instead of the teachings.” Really helped!

]]> By: Global Voices Online » Blog Archive » Singapore: Staying Skeptical of Scripture http://www.saltwetfish.net/journal/2006/03/28/reading-and-interpreting-scriptures-and-sayings/#comment-1502 Global Voices Online » Blog Archive » Singapore: Staying Skeptical of Scripture Mon, 27 Mar 2006 22:48:36 +0000 http://www.saltwetfish.net/journal/posts/134#comment-1502 [...] Singapore’s Salt * Wet * Fish reposts a 2004 entry from his old LiveJournal that continues to have resonance: a reflection on a passage by Buddhist nun Thich Nhat Hanh on remembering that spiritual texts are meant to provoke insight, and should not always be taken on face value. [...] [...] Singapore’s Salt * Wet * Fish reposts a 2004 entry from his old LiveJournal that continues to have resonance: a reflection on a passage by Buddhist nun Thich Nhat Hanh on remembering that spiritual texts are meant to provoke insight, and should not always be taken on face value. [...]

]]>