Studies in the Origins of Buddhism c8.73

c8.73

It deserves notice that paras 6–7 (PTS ed., paras 9–10) suffer from some confusion. Buddha in para 6 asks his Brāhmaṇa visitors as to the point of their dispute. This is quite unnecessary in view of the fact that the controversy has been already communicated to him in the previous para. Further, the next para (para 7) mentioning the diversity of ways propounded by the Brāhmaṇas asks if they all equally lead to salvation. So far right, but it now goes on to adduce an illustration to prove that all ways do lead to the same end, and then asserts as much explicitly. The Brāhmaṇas, thus, themselves answer their own problem, and in a way which might have been employed by Buddha himself! May it be suggested it was Buddha who pointed out that there could be more than one right way to the goal, although in fact there was not a single Brāhmaṇic way which could be called right? In the face of this common thrust the Brāhmaṇas would forget their mutual differences, thus leading to the discussion that follows.