Synthesized answer
The author provides evidence for the interconnectedness and uniformity of the world as presented in Gotama's teachings [1, 5]. This evidence is described as shining brightly from the exalted teachings, showing that everything that happens is connected, and that great and small things are encompassed by the same forces of time and the same law of causes [1]. The teachings are presented as perfectly clear, proven, and irrefutable in their depiction of the world as a perfect chain of causes and effects [5].
However, the author also highlights what he perceives as a gap or error in these teachings: the teachings of overcoming the world and salvation [1, 3]. This element, which cannot be demonstrated or proven, is presented as something alien and new that invades the world of unity, potentially voiding the eternal and uniform law of the world [1]. The author does not provide further evidence to support this critique, other than stating that this aspect of the teachings is not what the enlightened Buddha has experienced for himself and cannot be conveyed through words or teachings [2].
Synthesized from the book passages below. Chat with the book on Feynman for follow-up.
From the book
your teachings perfectly connected, without gaps, clear as a crystal, not depending on chance, not depending on gods. Whether it may be good or bad, whether living according to it would be suffering or joy, I do not wish to discuss, possibly this is not essential—but the uniformity of the world, that everything which happens is connected, that the great and the small things are all encompassed by the same forces of time, by the same law of causes, of coming into being and of dying, this is what shines brightly out of your exalted teachings, oh perfected one. But according to your…
right, there is little to opinions. But let me say this one more thing: I have not doubted in you for a single moment. I have not doubted for a single moment that you are Buddha, that you have reached the goal, the highest goal towards which so many thousands of Brahmans and sons of Brahmans are on their way. You have found salvation from death. It has come to you in the course of your own search, on your own path, through thoughts, through meditation, through realizations, through enlightenment. It has not come to you by means of teachings! And—thus is my thought, oh…
ain and becomes void. Please forgive me for expressing this objection.” Quietly, Gotama had listened to him, unmoved. Now he spoke, the perfected one, with his kind, with his polite and clear voice: “You’ve heard the teachings, oh son of a Brahman, and good for you that you’ve thought about it thus deeply. You’ve found a gap in it, an error. You should think about this further. But be warned, oh seeker of knowledge, of the thicket of opinions and of arguing about words. There is nothing to opinions, they may be beautiful or ugly, smart or foolish, everyone can support them or…
s to the gods? For whom else were offerings to be made, who else was to be worshipped but Him, the only one, the Atman? And where was Atman to be found, where did He reside, where did his eternal heart beat, where else but in one’s own self, in its innermost part, in its indestructible part, which everyone had in himself? But where, where was this self, this innermost part, this ultimate part? It was not flesh and bone, it was neither thought nor consciousness, thus the wisest ones taught. So, where, where was it? To reach this place, the self, myself, the Atman, there was another…
een privileged to hear your wondrous teachings. Together with my friend, I had come from afar, to hear your teachings. And now my friend is going to stay with your people, he has taken his refuge with you. But I will again start on my pilgrimage.” “As you please,” the venerable one spoke politely. “Too bold is my speech,” Siddhartha continued, “but I do not want to leave the exalted one without having honestly told him my thoughts. Does it please the venerable one to listen to me for one moment longer?” Silently, the Buddha nodded his approval. Quoth Siddhartha: “One thing, oh…