Is Buddhism a branch of Hinduism

[Spirit of Light]

No, the original sect was under Buddha himself.

Yes this is true

 

[Shantanu]

Some clame it to be the closest to the teaching Buddha Sakyamuni was teaching, But honestly i do not know. But i think it was the first that was written down as suttas. But here i can be wrong.

So Theravada Buddhism worldside are all managed locally through Buddhist temples, each temple electing a monk to manage the temple and be in charge of the teaching? The monks are dependent on the local Buddhist community for the premises and administration, right?

 

[Shantanu]

No, the original sect was under Buddha himself.

But that was never written down, was it?

 

[Spirit of Light]

So Theravada Buddhism worldside are all managed locally through Buddhist temples, each temple electing a monk to manage the temple and be in charge of the teaching? The monks are dependent on the local Buddhist community for the premises and administration, right?

I can only answer for those temple i know my self, but yes there is one "head" monk and the community do help with food and other needs. There are some people who are called Upāsaka (masculine) or Upāsikā (feminine) who dedicate their life to help the monks, this people are not monastic and not directly lay buddhists

 

[Spirit of Light]

But that was never written down, was it?

Buddha did only teach by oral tradition

 

[Shantanu]

Buddha did only teach by oral tradition

So Theravada Buddhism Suttas were written down by people 100 - 200 years after Buddha died?

 

[crossfire]

But that was never written down, was it?

It generated the oral traditions before they were written down. Buddha was keen on oral tradition. He wanted the Buddhadharma to spread and be accessible.

 

[Shantanu]

It generated the oral traditions before they were written down. Buddha was keen on oral tradition. He wanted the Buddhadharma to spread and be accessible.

Written down by who?

 

[Spirit of Light]

Written down by who?

As far as i know. Monks who already had reach enlightenment and because of this would be able to recall Buddhas exact words

 

[crossfire]

Written down by who?

The Suttas and Vinaya were recited soon after Buddha's death at the First Buddhist Council. Some of the oral traditions may or may not have been written down before the Fourth Buddhist Council in Sri Lanka, when the Theravadan suttas were all written down.

 

[Shantanu]

I think all this is very fuzzy: and we need to revise Buddhism on first principles based on proper scientific scrutiny of ones assertions.This is why Existential Buddhism is the way forward.

 

[crossfire]

I think all this is very fuzzy: and we need to revise Buddhism on first principles based on proper scientific scrutiny of ones assertions.This is why Existential Buddhism is the way forward.

This is the reason why the Four Dharma Seals were recognized: as a means by which to tell Buddhism from "sorta looks like Buddhism." It's a Mahayana thing, but Theravada also fits in with the Four Dharma Seals with their Three Marks of Existence and teachings on Nibbana.

 

[Spirit of Light]

I think all this is very fuzzy: and we need to revise Buddhism on first principles based on proper scientific scrutiny of ones assertions.This is why Existential Buddhism is the way forward.

Hinduism was also a oral tradition before it was written down, right? so why do you feel buddhism i fuzzy and hindusim is not?

 

[LuisDantas]

I am not pursuing ties to Buddhism that do not already exist.

You are emphasizing the nearly fully accidental fact that both Hinduism and Buddhism use the concept of Ahimsa (by such a name). I see that as misleading, and frankly, a bit naive as well.

 

[Shantanu]

This is the reason why the Four Dharma Seals were recognized: as a means by which to tell Buddhism from "sorta looks like Buddhism." It's a Mahayana thing, but Theravada also fits in with the Four Dharma Seals with their Three Marks of Existence and teachings on Nibbana.

So Mahayana Buddhism in First Century BCE first recognised the Four Dharma Seals that marks Buddhism as being something that is distinct from all other thoughts on dharma?

 

[crossfire]

You are emphasizing the nearly fully accidental fact that both Hinduism and Buddhism use the concept of Ahimsa (by such a name). I see that as misleading, and frankly, a bit naive as well.

I'll just post this link to the 42 negative confessions from the ancient Egyptian Papyrus of Ani for comparison to ahimsa.
Egyptian Book of the Dead - 42 Negative Confessions - House of Truth

 

[Shantanu]

Hinduism was also a oral tradition before it was written down, right? so why do you feel buddhism i fuzzy and hindusim is not?

Hinduism is not a religion but the way of life of people in the region. It has countless religious traditions each orally passed down until they were written down. The same fuzziness applies on authenticity of the writings, example Who was Valmiki, Who was Sankaracharya, etc.

 

[crossfire]

So Mahayana Buddhism in First Century BCE first recognised the Four Dharma Seals that marks Buddhism as being something that is distinct from all other thoughts on dharma?

I'm not sure when the Four Dharma Seals were recognized. You can see the Dharma Seals throughout Buddha's teachings, however. To ignore the Dharma Seals is to ignore Buddha's teachings. Hence, it is used to distinguish Buddhadharma from "sorta looks like Buddhism."

 

[Shantanu]

You are emphasizing the nearly fully accidental fact that both Hinduism and Buddhism use the concept of Ahimsa (by such a name). I see that as misleading, and frankly, a bit naive as well.

What is not misleading are the bare facts that dharma was something much more ancient that Buddha latched on to, right? - or are you going to say that dharma as a concept was created by Buddha for the very first time?

 

[Shantanu]

I'm not sure when the Four Dharma Seals were recognized. You can see the Dharma Seals throughout Buddha's teachings, however. To ignore the Dharma Seals is to ignore Buddha's teachings. Hence, it is used to distinguish Buddhadharma from "sorta looks like Buddhism."

As I said before, I reject annata whilst accepting the other three seals. It should also be recognised that the justification of karma is an even more ancient Hindu belief stemming from reincarnation that Buddha accepted. Finally, the idea of Satchitananda from the Upanishads was incorporated in the concept of nibbana.