John Peacock is a scholar and Associate Director of The Oxford Mindfulness Centre. His studies of the earliest Buddhist writings have revealed to him a very human Buddha and a very different Buddhism than we know today.
In a conversation with Hokai Sobol, Peacock describes the historical Buddha as a very practical teacher and a radical social reformer. He cites passages of the earliest writings that describe a very human and emotional Buddha that enjoyed satire. He calls the Buddha the “First Psychologist” and relates to him as a teacher who was more interested in practical psychology than philosophy.
This is Part 1 of a 2 part series.
Episode Links:
Oxford Mindfulness Center ( http://oxfordmindfulness.org )
Hokai Sobol | 21st Century Dharma ( http://www.hokai.info )
Sutta Nipata ( http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/snp/index.html )
Ariyapariyesana Sutta ( http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.026.than.html )