The "Paternalism" of Skillful Means in Buddhism

The idea of "skillful means" plays a central role in much Buddhist dharma. We'll consider one of its most famous early examples and why one scholar considered it a "paternalistic" concept. We'll also look at its role in reinterpreting the dharma in a revolutionary way. Finally we'll consider the dangers of superiority conceit in Buddhist practice.

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Relevant inks:

✅ Videos:
Unveiling "Skillful Means" in Buddhism: Early Developments — Unveiling "Skillful Means" in Buddhis...
Discovering the Four Phases of "Skillful Means" in Buddhism: Dilemmas and Controversies — Discovering the Four Phases of "Skill...
The Buddhist Doctrine of Two Truths: Origins — The Buddhist Doctrine of Two Truths: ...

✅ Books:
Bhikkhu Anālayo, Superiority Conceit in Buddhist Traditions. https://amzn.to/3x4UCVu
Robert Buswell (ed.), Encyclopedia of Buddhism. https://amzn.to/3wy78N6
Tsugunari Kubo and Akira Yuyama (trans.), The Lotus Sutra (Numata Center for Buddhist Translation and Research, 2007). https://amzn.to/4bQo1To
Paul Williams, Mahāyāna Buddhism: The Doctrinal Foundations (2nd Ed.) https://amzn.to/3TdOEKw

✅ Papers:
Asaf Federman, “Literal Means and Hidden Meanings: A New Analysis of Skillful Means.” In Philosophy East & West (2009). https://www.jstor.org/stable/40213564
Damien Keown, “Paternalism in the Lotus Sutra.” Journal of Buddhist Ethics (1998). https://www.academia.edu/599738/Pater...

✅ Suttas:
https://suttacentral.net/iti25/en/sujato
https://suttacentral.net/an2.21-31/en...  
https://suttacentral.net/dn9/en/sujato

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00:00 Intro
00:31 Early Buddhist context
01:46 Lotus Sutra’s parable of the burning house
05:39 Parable justifies significant doctrinal change
07:16 “Paternalism” of the Lotus Sutra
08:30 Conceit in Buddhist belief and practice
09:23 Historicism vs. conceit

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