Four phases of early Buddhist studies

[sabbamitta]

@sujato

Just as the tradition-critical movement was rooted in the findings of the archeological phase, the comparative phase builds on discoveries made in the 19th century

You have generally changed “tradition-critical” to “harmonizing”, but not here.

[trevor]

I must always keep reminding myself of firm advice a lecturer offered years ago that goes in large measure to this question of subjectivity. When reading any ancient text (and my apologies if I’ve made this comment before) we inevitably read it from/through the prism of our own place and time. We cannot do otherwise.

[dastharak]

I would like to know why Ven. Ledi Sayadow is considered an figure for early Buddhist reforms? Wasn’t he based on Mahavihara tradition ?

[stephen]

There was a book written fairly recently that addresses this. See here:

The Birth of Insight

[sujato]

@dastharak

I would like to know why Ven. Ledi Sayadow is considered an figure for early Buddhist reforms? Wasn’t he based on Mahavihara tradition ?

Sure, but he was a modernist reformer within that tradition. He emphasized rationality and a scientific approach to meditation, and was in conversation with leading international Buddhist figures such as Caroline Rhy-Davids.

[dastharak]

Thanks @stephen and Bhante @sujato for responding