Did Buddha ever say that educated people would be a problem?
Upvote:0
Just like anything, if you approach a subject thinking that all you need to do in order to understand it is to reduce it into terms you already feel comfortable with, terms that are already socially acceptable, you're going to face obstacles in getting to the deeper message.
Getting an academic education today, and the ego boost it can leave you with if you're prone to that kind of thing, is bound to be a kind of obstacle to understanding.
I suspect that the intention of the author was to imply just this, and not that reason is to be thrown out the door.
Upvote:0
It is not being educated itself that is an issue. People who becomes educated sometime distance themselves from those who don't. Thus, that create some sense of ego boost and have the urge of not "feeling enough". The thoughts that they need to be educated to better than others are the causes of pain and suffering.
The term being intellectual in Buddhism isn't necessarily the same thing as obtaining more knowledge, it is more into trying to understand the meaning of what is being learned, why is it the way it is, and how would that affect someone in some way. It is not about "hey, I know more than you do." Instead, it's more like "Oh I see... that's why it is what it is."
Upvote:2
I haven't really come across such a remark in the suttas in Theravada. If the book doesn't refer to any sutta in the canon the monk is probably writing down his own opinion.
On the contrary, in the Mangala sutta Buddha praised learnedness when answering a question by one of the devas regarding what brings the highest blessing to a person,
[Deva:]
Many devas and human beings give thought to protection, desiring well-being. Tell, then, the highest protection.
[The Buddha:]
[..]
Living in a civilized land, having made merit in the past, directing oneself rightly: This is the highest protection.
Broad knowledge, skill, well-mastered discipline, well-spoken words: This is the highest protection.
Support for one's parents, assistance to one's wife and children, consistency in one's work: This is the highest protection
[..]
Mangala sutta [Thanissaro Bhikkhu Trans]
Upvote:4
It's important to read the full context of what that teacher said. Also, if someone simply says: "The Buddha said this or that", then that's not good enough. He'll need to provide backup sutras/suttas references. For example, in the suttas education is very important:
"Friend, the Blessed One has described you as being endowed with seven amazing, astounding qualities. Which seven? 'Hatthaka of Alavi is endowed with conviction. He is virtuous. He has a sense of conscience. He has a sense of concern. He is learned. He is generous. He is discerning.' Friend, the Blessed One has described you as being endowed with these seven amazing, astounding qualities." ~ AN 8.23 ~
"Even so, he who is experienced and has a well-trained mind, who is learned and dependable, 2 clearly knowing, he can help others to understand who are willing to listen and ready to receive" ~ Sn 2.8 ~
More post
- π Acts of evil by "aryans": how can you explain them?
- π How to work for liberating ALL living beings?
- π What are the resources a Buddhist can use during very hard times?
- π Is it better to be born with health, wealth, beauty and intelligence or not taking birth in this miserable and temporary world at all?
- π Through the Processes of Jhana does it have a Permanent effect or temporary effect on your life
- π What is mind contain of?
- π What is "thukdam"?
- π Which Pali suttas describe the Buddha & monks demonstrating psychic powers to laypeople?
- π Trying to find a quote by Pema Chodron
- π Does the Buddha have any practices for groups and societies that would lead society to less suffering, prosperity, not decay?
- π What does it mean to be upright?
- π When you are an enlightened Buddha do you have no more worries or fears and desires?
- π Would the Buddha Shelter us from being offended?
- π What does Buddhism say about creativity and spiritual development?
- π What are all the bhawana (meditation) methods in Buddhism?
- π Does anyone interpret 'karma' this way?
- π What are the "Four Vinayas"?
- π How to cultivate the perception of 'Anatta'?
- π Over control and energy dissipation
- π How can I make amends with the one I wronged?
- π Killing and planing to kill
- π Doctor assisted suicide - does doctor break the first precept?
- π Bare awareness while meditating in the Mahasi Sayadaw tradition
- π Modern and original versions of Chan and Seon
- π Non Buddhist can say Hello to Buddha or Monk?
- π Mission on earth (In Buddhism)
- π How should a buddhist behave when he&she is treated unfairly?
- π Studying the subject "the four Buddhist schools/systems of tenets" (VaibhΔαΉ£ika, SautrΔntika, CittamΔtra, MΔdhyamika) in English
- π Do we need to believe in Buddhist stories to be a real Buddhist?
- π Is Papanca (i.e., hindrance) always unwholesome?
Source: stackoverflow.com
Search Posts
Related post
- π Did Buddha ever say that educated people would be a problem?
- π Did the Buddha really say that "life is suffering"?
- π Did the Buddha ever say something proven wrong later?
- π Do enlighted people cry? Did the Buddha ever cry?
- π How did Buddha deal with people that were sexually attracted to him?
- π Did the Buddha ever refute the view of "extreme metaphysical nihilism" e.g. a view that "nothing is real"?
- π Where did the Buddha say that Teachings that don't contain the Noble Eightfold Path cannot lead to Enlightenment?
- π Did Buddha ever say how to overcome shyness?
- π The Buddha spoke to many individuals. Did the Buddha ever tell an individual who did not believe in rebirth, that they must in order to be liberated?
- π Did the Buddha ever say excessive meditation is bad?
- π Did the Buddha say that practitioners inclined towards hate rather than greed are closer to nibbana?
- π Did the Buddha ever teach that we have a special responsibility to those we have injured?
- π Did Shakyamuni Buddha say anything in regard to fear
- π Did the Buddha ever delve on the dangers of one's own spirtual achievements feeding the ego?
- π Did the Buddha ever mention the Upanishads or the Vedas?
- π Did the Buddha say anything about attachment to meditation?
- π Did the Buddha ever talk about his family?
- π Did Buddha ever go outside India to teach?
- π What did the Buddha say about music?
- π What is Death? What did Buddha say regarding the experience of Death?
- π Did Buddha say "this is the Middle Way"?
- π What exactly did Lord Buddha say about Size of Atom?
- π Did the Buddha state that there is only one way, and state/imply that any other path (such as those practiced by yogis) was futile?
- π Did the Buddha ever define what he meant by "self"?
- π What did Buddha say about dysfunctional families for novice practitioners?
- π πWhat did the Buddha say about courage?
- π Did the Buddha ever 'thunder' during a Fire Sermon?
- π Did the Buddha ever mention or encounter Jews?
- π Did the Buddha ever cure someone?
- π What did the Buddha say about gratitude?