SuttaCentral
It’s a critic & questioning of your methodology for the benefit of people on these forums. Which I believe is on topic. 
It also tells us not to take something based on the scriptural authority. Are you seeking Buddhavacana, or Dhamma? That’s the difference I’m trying to draw.
See also: Choong Mun-keat:
The Fundamental Teachings of Early Buddhism: A Comparative Study Based on the Sūtrāṅga portion of the Pāli Saṃyutta-Nikāya and the Chinese Saṃyuktāgama (Series: Beitrage zur Indologie Band 32; Harrassowitz Verlag, Wiesbaden, 2000).
“Ācāriya Buddhaghosa and Master Yinshun 印順 on the Three-aṅga Structure of Early Buddhist Texts”, Research on the Saṃyukta-āgama (Dharma Drum Institute of Liberal Arts, Research Series 8; edited by Dhammadinnā), Taiwan: Dharma Drum Corporation, August 2020, pp. 883-932.
Hi Thomas
SN is outside the 4 Nikaya/Agama, which are the shared texts. So, I don’t hold that text in high regard. This doesn’t mean there are no authentic teachings in it.
Cheers
Joe
PS: sorry I read SN as Sn, Sutta Nipata.
Hi Dogen
Thanks for pointing that one out. I may add it to my collection.
Nevertheless, I do not find that instruction very clear or concise at all, but rather vague. Also, it seems to be focused on desires as the cause, which I believe does not free oneself, but only suppresses, and would be the Hindu interpretation/overlay of the Buddha’s teaching, original teaching of Ignorance as the cause. It’s certainly up to you to choose to follow whatever advice you wish, which may agree with your inclinations.
In my collection, you would have seen quite a few specific instructions to do comparisons and an example of this can be found in the Anapanasati Sutta, where the 16 steps are compares with the 4 Foundations of Mindfulness.
I am trying to find Dhamma via the Buddhavacana, as I believe the Buddha’s teaching can still be found in the records of his words and this would be the most efficient use of my time. So, the specific advice on how to study Buddhavacana, which I have compiled, is very relevant. If I were not interested in the Buddha’s words, then the advice in the previous quote, would probably be one of my main focusses.
And once I have clarified to the best of my ability what is Buddhavacana, then I do not take it as the truth, but test it in experience, to see if it achieves the stated goal.
best wishes
Joe
I don’t think it establishes desire as a cause; it sounds like a paraphrasing.
I think the quote literally says “Whatever leads to freedom from yoking”; the point is seeking whatever leads to freedom, without talking about a cause. One could even argue that not knowing this difference (that is, the knowledge of what leads to yoking and what leads to unyoking) is the ignorance mentioned in the DO.
Out of curiosity, what is your basis for establishing this so? I believe some academics even argue how DO might be a later elaboration.
In that case, trying to first establish a Buddhavacana only to then test it out again seems like having a middleman. One can already test out the contents of the suttas without going through the hassle of arguments to establish whether it’s early or later - one needs to only rely on their gnosis, as your Kalama sutta as you’ve pointed out. But of course, you do you.
I mean don’t get me wrong, I enjoy the intellectual debate of trying to vet out what Buddha might’ve said, especially with @josephzizys and similar endeavours; but to me those are purely intellectual curiosities, almost a hinderance on the path, because once you admit that some/bulk (depending on your level of scepticism) parts of canon are corrupted, then it’s an irony in exercise to rely on the arguments contained within to come to a self-consistent logic.
If it works for you, that’s great.
And if everyone was enlightened there world be no need for the debate. It’s a catch 22.
re possibly ‘desire as a cause’ in your quoted methodology: yes, it all seems quite vague, such as you suggest there could be paraphrasing…
There are many versions of DO. Dr Rod Bucknell has written on some of them and no doubt others, and he talked about the theory DO was developed or maybe modified over time. I don’t accept the standard version of DO because:
When I compare the ideas of desire or ignorance as a cause, I find ignorance makes things more relatable and matches the claim that the Buddha discovered something new. Desire is still taught as the cause in Hinduism, I believe.
Yes. I choose to take the Buddha as my teacher and the expert, interpreter, middleman on his teaching. So, I look to him first, seeking his guidance and investigating in the way I believe he taught us to do. To me, this exercise of intelligence, is an integral part of entering the path, not just an intellectual curiosity. At the start one is a Faith Follower, then one becomes a Dhamma Follower. Some may remain a Faith Follower all their lives, I would imagine.
cheers
Are you sure SN is outside the 4 Nikayas? In my experience SN contains the teachings closest to the Buddha. Studying SN alongside the Chinese parallels has helped me a great deal.
With Love
Are you seriously coming to this board, claiming to know what is “early” in the EBT and you don’t even know that the Samyutta Nikaya is one of the 4 Nikayas?
Honestly @Brother_Joe it beggars belief.
Oh, I read it as Sutta Nipata.
Oh of course! I really couldn’t believe it, but that makes sense, sorry from my bombast 
No, sorry. I read it as Sutta Nipata. Not Sanyutta Nikaya.
hahah. Then the Buddha wouldn’t have said anything, I would guess, being enlightened.
Yes, I hold SN generally in high esteem.
Hi again Thomas
Having applied the various pieces of advice I have found attributed to the Buddha in the EBTs, I believe I have made progress on identifying the gradual path. This includes discovering that the four Jhana were likely just one of the more than 50 various consistent presentations of the Path by the Buddha in the EBTs. This agrees with the realization the Buddha had just after his conclusion of testing the two extremes, when he remembered an experience as a young man ‘jhana is the middle way, which avoids the two extremes and I should develop that’.
You can read more in the topic Seeking Recommendations on resources on the gradual training for laypeople
All these presentations of the Path conform to the Three Trainings: Ethics, Composure and Wisdom.
best wishes
Joe
Hi all
Thanks to the ‘encouragement’ which I translated from the complaint, I have added references to my spreadsheet and changed the access of the Google Document to ‘anyone with the link can view’.
Here is the newer version:
Ealier and Later Teachings.pdf (2.3 MB)
Best wishes
Joe