Superiority Conceit in Buddhist Traditions

Renowned scholar-monk writes accessibly on some of the most contentious topics in Buddhismguaranteed to ruffle some feathers.Armed with his rigorous examination of the canonical records, respected scholar-monk Bhikkhu Analayo exploresand sharply criticizesfour examples of what he terms "superiority conceit" in Buddhism: the androcentric tendency to prevent women from occupying leadership roles, be these as fully ordained monastics or as advanced bodhisattvas the Mahayana notion that those who don't aspire to become bodhisattvas are inferior practitioners the Theravada belief that theirs is the most original expression of the Buddha's teaching the Secular Buddhist claim to understand the teachings of the Buddha more accurately than traditionally practicing BuddhistsVen. Analayo challenges the scriptural basis for these conceits and points out that adhering to such notions of superiority is not, after all, conducive to...