Literal Means and Hidden Meanings: A New Analysis of Skillful Means

@article{Federman2009LiteralMA,
  title={Literal Means and Hidden Meanings: A New Analysis of Skillful Means},
  author={Asaf Federman},
  journal={Philosophy East and West},
  year={2009},
  volume={59},
  pages={125 - 141}
}
  • Asaf Federman
  • Published 1 April 2009
  • Education
  • Philosophy East and West
The Buddhist concept of skillful means, as introduced inMahāyāna sūtras, exposes a new awareness of the gap between text and meaning. Although the term is sometimes taken to point to the Buddha's pedagogical skills, this interpretation ignores the provocative use of the term in Mahāyāna texts. Treating skillful means as a universal Buddhist concept also fails to explain why and for what purpose it first became predominant in the Mahāyāna. Looking at the use of skillful means in the Lotus Sūtra… 
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References

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'Skilful Means' is the key principle of Mahayana, one of the great Buddhist traditions. First described in the Lotus Sutra, it originates in myths of the Buddha's compassionate plans for raising life…
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Either way the Aṅ guttara and Dīgha Nikāyas do not use upāya in the same technical way that the Lotus Sū tra does. 11 -Keown 1998. 12 -Ibid
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  • 2003
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