Majjhima Nikaya sutta 63

[The Cobbler's Apprentice]

One of the most influential Theravada Suttas, at least for me, is sutta 63 of the Majjhima Nikaya, "The Shorter Instructions to Malunkya"


Here is the sutta in full:-

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....063.than.html

Theravada texts tend to go on a bit, even the "full" version given here has had various repetitions taken out. I find that what they go on about is well worth going on about. Others might give up half way through - or sooner. Each to their own.

The sutta is fundamental to understanding the Buddhist perspective, and obviously touches on the reason for the Noble Silence of the Buddha.

Perhaps sky could sum up the sutta in just a few words, otherwise all are invited to follow the link and reflect upon its words.

(The link itself offers a further link to a more modern version)

[The Cobbler's Apprentice]

Originally Posted by The Cobbler's Apprentice

Perhaps sky could sum up the sutta in just a few words

Hey, just had a flash of inspiration myself! How about:-
Don't speculate, look within.

views do not lead to unbinding sums up Buddha's words there to me.

does not matter if those views are true or false
they are an unnecessary layer in the now

to connect to a view is to connect to mind and thought
to connect to mind and thought is to connect to the body
to connect with the body is to connect to feeling and emotion
to connect to feeling and emotion is suffering

if one knows the dangers of boiling water, one does not touch it
to have a view is to have a center
to have a center is to have a border
to have a border is to be self enclosed
to be self enclosed is to not be free

don't make these words a view
use them to drop all views

""Malunkyaputta, it's not the case that when there is the view, there is the living of the holy life."

[sky]

Originally Posted by The Cobbler's Apprentice

The sutta is fundamental to understanding the Buddhist
perspective, and obviously touches on the reason for the Noble Silence of the Buddha.

Mr Malunkya needs to stop allowing certain thoughts which are unanswerable divert Him from the Path.
He's tangled within and tangled without and somehow tangled His priorities up in the knots

[The Cobbler's Apprentice]

Yes, thanks to both of you. Many think such questions are answerable, in fact have been answered. In a book. Thus, they then have a "view". Which leads to discord with those of other views, derived either from the same book, or maybe another book!! Thus begins this whole mass of suffering.

Anyway, such is my view.

[sky]

Originally Posted by AbodhiSky

views..

don't make these words a view
use them to drop all views

Views are very important in Buddhism, especially ' Right View '... Right View is an ' Essential ' part of the Buddhist path.

[The Cobbler's Apprentice]

Originally Posted by sky123

Views are very important in Buddhism, especially ' Right View '... Right View is an ' Essential ' part of the Buddhist path.

We can end up playing with words. Part of Right View could well be to hold No View and so on and so on.....

I looked up a text relevant to this....

. Seeing misery in views and opinions, without adopting any, I found inner peace and freedom........ But those who grasp after views and opinions only wander about the world annoying people.

Well, views or not, I've often wandered around annoying people.

But joking (?) apart, a link here to a nice little blog from Jack Kornfield:-

http://https://jackkornfield.com/the-wisdom-of-not-knowing/

[sky]

Originally Posted by The Cobbler's Apprentice

Thus, they then have a "view". Which leads to discord with those of other views, Thus begins this whole mass of suffering.

Only if you allow it to

[sky]

Originally Posted by The Cobbler's Apprentice

We can end up playing with words. Part of Right View could well be to hold No View

Not in Buddhism.... Right View is part of The Buddha's first Teaching (Eightfold Path). Living in the real world would be extremely difficult without views.

[The Cobbler's Apprentice]

Originally Posted by sky123

Not in Buddhism.... Right View is part of The Buddha's first Teaching (Eightfold Path). Living in the real world would be extremely difficult without views.

No, you are playing with words.
All that has said about holding no views is important at a very fundamental level.
We will have to disagree.