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Why the Buddha’s Arrow Parable Misses The Mark [THREAD]
The Arrow Parable:
The Arrow Parable:
Buddhists usually reference this parable as an excuse to not engage in metaphysical philosophy.
However, this is a bad excuse.
However, this is a bad excuse.
Consider if the man were asking: "Have I been shot with an arrow at all?" "Is it poisoned?" "Is this man truly a doctor?" "Is he an enemy, even an assassin?" "Is what he offers me medicine or poison?"
His questions are a bit more RELEVANT are they not?
His questions are a bit more RELEVANT are they not?
The Buddha is like the Doctor, obviously. But a purported doctor may be a fraud, a quack, or simply wrong. The Buddha's DIAGNOSIS, his PROGNOSIS, and his PRESCRIPTIONS all rest on METAPHYSICAL CLAIMS.
For him not to discuss these is therefore disingenuous.
For him not to discuss these is therefore disingenuous.
For example, I have reason to think these three claims of he Buddha are false.
It seems as if the Buddha teaches the wisdom of Heracleitus, but is unaware of the wisdom of Parmenides.
Since the Buddha goes wrong about Being, he goes wrong everywhere.
Because an error at the beginning is always catastrophic as the doctrine progresses.
Because an error at the beginning is always catastrophic as the doctrine progresses.
The Buddha is unaware of οὐσία. Thus he is unaware of ὑπόστασις. Thus he is unaware of the πρόσωπον. The Buddha does not know ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ ὤν or אהיה אשר אהיה.
ἐκεῖνος ἁμαρτωλός ἦν ἀπ’ ἀρχῆς.
ὁ ἔχων ὦτα ἀκουέτω.
ἐκεῖνος ἁμαρτωλός ἦν ἀπ’ ἀρχῆς.
ὁ ἔχων ὦτα ἀκουέτω.
