3.2.11

Lesson 3.2.11 Kathāvatthu (select.) – Refuting Wrong Doctrines

For as long as humankind has existed, a multitude of beliefs and concepts prevailed that tried to fulfil the desires of humans to understand themselves. Those general concepts and prevailing ideas are systematically summarized in the Brahmajālasutta of the Dīghanikāya. The Buddha deals in detail with the then current speculations about past and future major philosophies (micchadiṭṭhi). During the Buddha’s lifetime many of these teachings lost their efficacy and their followers started to apply the effective and pragmatic teaching of the Buddha. Though by the time of King Asoka various obstacles arose and with the purity of the Dhamma in question, the Elder Moggaliputta Tissa stepped forward and refuted many of the heresies. This present short selection is introduced to show interested readers the method that was employed by way of logical dialectical methods to prove the falseness of the respective beliefs. It is the opening part of a fivefold refutation out of twenty-two discussions on the subject of an ever-existing principle: a soul, a self.