HP and the Eightfold Path

[Elizabeth Dalton]

No: HPFGUIDX 31106

Emily wrote:

> As someone with devout Buddhist parents and who has sat in on a 
> number of teachings and practices over the last ten years, I would 
> tend to balk at drawing parallels between the tenets of the Eightfold 
> Path and the lessons in HP simply because they have different aims. 

You undoubtedly know far more about Buddhism than I do. And the limited amount
that I do know is largely based on Zen (with some odd bits of Theravada thrown
in). I am going to guess (and I hope you will excuse me if I am mistaken) that
you are most familiar with Chinese Buddhism. There are some differences between
different branches that even I, a relative novice, am aware of, but I don't
think that's critical to this discussion.

However, I would suggest that whether or not one can analyze the books in terms
of how they compare to the Eightfold Path -- or any other religious statements
-- is not dependent on whether the books actually support or conflict with those
statements. The point of the analysis would be to establish or refute that very
connection. Which you just did.

> Anyway, I think that approaching HP through the Eightfold Path, 
> especially without an eye towards what the Eightfold Path really 
> intends to lead you, would be no more than superficial, and wouldn't 
> really get to the heart of what Buddhism is really about.

I agree. I'd be interested in seeing a more extended analysis of this from your
point of view, but I'm not going to attempt it. A universalist like myself makes
a poor excuse for a Buddhist when there's a real one in the group.

Elizabeth
(who is currently trying to learn more about Chinese Buddhism, because my
daughter is Chinese, and keeps asking me about Buddhist-related stuff she
remembers doing in China.)