[Buddha-l] To whom should teachings be given

[Jon Weaver]

I've heard of Japanese research on early stupa inscriptions that  provides evidence of a lay tradition which may have contributed to the  emergence of the Mahayana.  Is anyone aware of this research? Why  would monastics undermine their own authority by advocating the  superior wisdom of lay people like Vimalakirti? I'm trying to  understand how even the early tradition was not unified and wrapped  with a bow, but a mixture of differing views and perspectives. It seems  that tensions about the position of lay people and women contributed to  the Mahayana, even if scholarly monasitcs made the most important  contributions. Is this just hindsight?
  
  Best regards, Jon Weaver
   
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