Was the Buddha a Perfect Man? – Dialectic Two Step

Question: Can we call Buddha a Perfect Man?

Response:  No. Here’s a philosophical argument against the idea of a perfect man (or a perfect anything). The Buddha was born, grew up, suffered illness, and died. Like every other man or woman, he was subject to constant change.

Something perfect cannot change. If it becomes more perfect, then it wasn’t perfect in the first place. If it becomes less perfect, then it is no longer perfect.

In fact if we allow for perfection to change, then everything is perfect and the idea has no meaning.

If we wish to hold up one person as perfect compared to others, we fall into meaninglessness (and suffering).

How about this. What if we adopt the idea that everything, as it is, is perfect? We might all be a little better off.

Dialectic Two-Step  is an ongoing series of my thoughts on questions that come my way.

Wisdom lies neither in fixity nor in change, but in the dialectic between the two. - Octavio

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The post Was the Buddha a Perfect Man? – Dialectic Two Step written by Andrew Furst appeared on Andrew Furst.