Theravada Buddhism
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Comment by Michael Walacavage on December 20th, 2014 at 2:29 am
Thundy’s ridiculous speculation about a connection between the “therapeutae” described by Philo and putative Buddhist missionaries is unworthy of serious consideration. First cognates of the word “therapeutae” (therapon, therapeuo) exist in the Greek of Homer and Thucydides, respectively. These sources predate Buddhism. One must also wonder if Thundy even bothered to read Philo before making his nonsensical statement. Philo describes these folks as devotees of the seventh day Sabbath and describes their celebration of the Passover at some length. Seems a bit odd for Buddhists, no?
Comment by Jennifer Tanabe on June 15th, 2015 at 11:30 am
Thank you, Michael, for your feedback. Indeed, the name “therapeutae” seems unlikely to have derived from the Buddhist term. That suggestion will be removed. Yet, he is not the only scholar to have postulated a connection between the Therapeutae and Buddhist monasticism, as the article notes.
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