(Follow this link to see the April 2023 Priory Newsletter where this was recently published.)
There is a story I heard once about how the Buddha, hearing reports that a local king was preparing to go to war with a neighboring kingdom, wanted to do something to help. Because he had known the father of this local king, the Buddha went to talk with him to see if he could persuade him to leave off his intention toward war. Even after trying a few times, the Buddha was not able to convince the king and the war proceeded, creating much destruction and death.
Depending on our view on what or how the Buddha was or should be, we might hear such a story and wonder whether the Buddha was really all that he was made out to be? He is said to have been perfect in knowledge and conduct as well as omnipotent, but he seems to have failed here; because of this, we might wonder whether what he taught and practiced might also be flawed?
Really though, what did the Buddha teach? And, just because the Buddha had human limits, should we Continue reading →