In this talk about the “Paternalism” of skillful means in Buddhism, Douglass Smith delves into the evolution of skillful means in Buddhism, particularly during the Mahayana period and as depicted in the Lotus Sutra.
Initially, skillful means referred to the Buddha’s ability to teach effectively without lying, focusing on reducing craving and leading followers to Enlightenment.
However, during the Mahayana period, the concept evolved to include the use of deception, exemplified by the parable of the burning house, where a father deceives his children to save them, representing the Buddha’s potential use of deception to guide individuals toward Enlightenment.
Doug discusses the Parable of the Three Vehicles and the term “hinayana,” which contrasts the Mahayana vehicle with earlier teachings.
Scholar Asaf Federman suggests that this parable functions as a hermeneutical device, reinterpreting early teachings as simpler and intended for less capable audiences.
Doug emphasizes the necessity of distinguishing between legitimate historicism and illegitimate conceit when interpreting Buddhist texts, noting that some texts may claim superiority and create divisions among practitioners.
Doug encourages practitioners to be aware of these issues and references a book by Bhikkhu Analayo on the topic of superiority conceit in Buddhist traditions.
