Religion
In reply to the discussion: Was Jesus even born? [View all]M.G.
(250 posts)Last edited Thu Nov 7, 2013, 10:26 PM - Edit history (2)
I studied and practiced the Vajrayana for over a decade under two of the most respected (and orthodox) lamas in the world. I've also had one Zen teacher and I've spent time at Theravada monasteries in Asia. So actually, I know exactly what I'm talking about.
This is way outside the scope of this discussion, but the historical evidence that Siddhartha Gautama taught tantra (to any non-Buddhists reading this, that's the dominant form of Buddhism in Tibet) is pretty much nil.
None of which, incidentally, makes the Tibetan tantric practices I've been formally initiated into, or those the Dalai Lama teaches, less "Buddhist" or less meaningful or less sacred than what the historical personage of Siddhartha Gautama taught, or any practice my Zen Buddhist teacher taught me.
If there's a lesson here for non-Buddhists, its that even people involved in exactly the same religious practices can't agree on their historical pedigree, or their lineal connection to their faith's founder, or how relevant those connections even are. In fact, this somewhat heated exchange proves that such disagreements aren't unique to any one religion, and don't seem to have any impact on what it is that believers actually practice. Which I think goes to prove my original point that the historicity of Jesus makes no difference to the Christian faith at all.