Contradictions too Complex to Understand

The Buddha, not thinking that the aggregates composed a self, did yet say ‘I’ and spoke of thesemy teachings.’ In such a way, though things are certainly without intrinsic being, He taught non-definitively and said they are,” (Ganeri 108).

 

Up to this point in the class, we have learned that Buddha teaches that there is no self and one must be empty of all things in order to attain the goal of nirvana. This type of lesson can only truly be understood by “those who have cultivated their propensity for the profound truth,” (Ganeri 109). We learn that there are three types of people, “those whose mind’s eye is entirely covered by the veil,” “those who are tethered,” “and those who are in the vicinity of nirvāna,” (Ganeri 108-109). It is interesting to me that Buddha taught in levels, like going from elementary school to high school to college. The more open mind a person became and thus able to understand the deeper meanings of a message is only when they were one step close to nirvana. This is also the first time we see different values assigned to mediocre followings. It is not enough just to be a good person, reaching heaven is not enough, although a good alternative if you are left in the misfortune to not have mentally progressed to the next level.