History of Philosophy: India, Africana, China HPI 10 - Crossover Appeal - The Nature of the Buddha’s Teaching
Jan 24, 2016
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Teaching As A Means To Cross Over
- The Buddha compares his teaching to a raft: it is instrumental for crossing from suffering to safety.
- Once you reach the other shore, cling neither to the raft nor to the teaching that got you there.
Instrumental Truth Versus Ultimate Value
- The raft analogy raises a worry that teachings might be merely instrumentally useful and not necessarily true.
- The hosts pursue whether the Buddha treats truth as intrinsically valuable or only as a tool toward liberation.
Avoid Falsehoods That Hinder Liberation
- The Buddha rejects speech that is untrue and unbeneficial, emphasizing truthfulness tied to the goal of nirvana.
- Avoid lying because, in this ethical frame, falsehood cannot produce the morally beneficial result of liberation.