Therav2da Methods of Interpretation on Buddhist Scriptures

Therefore Hermeneutic theory is indispensible for Buddhism because many texts contain controversial stories. The main idea of Therav2da Hermeneutics is to understand all conditioned things as impermanence, un-satisfactoriness and non-self. Particularly, non-attachment is regarded as the ‘gradual path ’ and ‘skillful means ’ to cultivate the conventional self and to realize the non-self. Traditionally, Buddhist hermeneutics accepts 2 levels of truth, the conventional and ultimate truths. By these concepts, Buddhist hermeneutics can accommodate both Schleiermacher's theory of the author's intention and Gadamer's theory of fusion of horizon, because the former and the latter correspond to ‘gradual path ’ of Therav2da and ‘skillful means ’ of Mah2y2na, respectivly. From the similar aspect, it can be said that Buddhism accepts both social self and social non-self. The former and the latter can be interpreted as ‘everyday ritual ’ and ‘beyond everyday ritual. ’ Self-identity in the light of right understanding through the self awareness or heedfulness must be cultivated to solve the problem of conflict occurring all over the world