To Calm the Ruffling of Robes: Using Methods from Biblical Exegesis to Understand Ven. Ñāṇavīra’s and Bhikkhu Bodhi’s Rival Interpretations of paṭicca- samuppāda
Ven. Ñāṇavīra’s and Ven. Bodhi’s interpretations of the twelve-fold formulation of paṭiccasamuppāda (dependent arising) are very different, and illustrate some of the differences between Secular Buddhism and orthodox Theravāda. I apply a scheme derived from biblical exegesis to analyse their respective strategies of interpretation. The two exegetes differed in how they applied certain synchronic and diachronic analytical methods, as well as engaged methods. Some differences in interpretation resulted from differing intertextual analysis, specifically whether a particular text from one part of the Pāli canon could be validly relied on to support or refute a text elsewhere in the canon. Ñāṇavīra’s espousal of existentialist philosophy, and the extent of hermeneutic trust or suspicion towards the orthodox Theravādin commentaries, were notable influences on their interpretations. The method and findings have implications for our interpretation of texts and our assessment of those of others.
目次
Abstract 21 Introduction 21 Dependent arising 22 Hermeneutical underpinning 24 The scheme of exegetical methods: 26 The analytical diachronic approach 30 The analytical synchronic approach 31 1. dukkha 31 2. vedanā 32 3. The nexuses 33 a. bhava, jāti, and jarāmaraṇa b. avijjā, saṅkhārā, and viññāṇa 4. ‘sabbe saṅkhārā aniccā’ etc. 35 5. dhamma sandiṭṭhika akālika 36 6. The bālapaṇḍita sutta 37 A hermeneutic of trust or suspicion? 40 Engaged approaches to exegesis 41 Discussion and conclusions 43 Some personal reflections 46 Acknowledgements 48 References 48
