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WHAT IS NOT—DHAMMA
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lines he repeats, his performance is not equal to the repetition of one sentence well understood, which is able when heard to control thought. To repeat a thousand words without understanding, what profit is there in this ? But to understand one truth, and hearing it, to act accordingly, this is to find deliverance.
“A man may be able to repeat many books but if he cannot explain them what profit is there in this ? But to explain one sentence of the law and to walk accordingly, this is the way to find supreme wisdom.”
On hearing these words, the two hundred bhikkhus, the king and his ministers were filled with joy.
§ 8. Belief in the Infallibility of Books of Dhamma is Not—Dhamma
The Brahmins had declared that the Vedas were not only sacred but in point of authority they were final.
Not only were the Vedas declared by the Brahmins to be final but they were declared by them to be infallible.
The Buddha was totally opposed to the Brahmins on this point.
He denied that the Vedas were sacred. He denied that whatever the Vedas said was final. He denied that the Vedas were infallible.
There were many teachers who had taken the same position as he had done. However, later on they or their followers all gave in order to win respect and goodwill from the Brahmins for their systems of philosophy. But the Buddha never yielded on this issue.
In the Tvijja Sutta the Buddha declared that the Vedas were a waterless desert, a pathless jungle, in fact perdition. No man with intellectual and moral thirst can go to the Vedas and hope to satisfy his thirst.
As to infallibility of the Vedas, he said nothing
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