(June 20, 2011 at 1:52 am)FaithNoMore Wrote:(June 19, 2011 at 11:38 pm)Nick_A Wrote: ...have you ever wondered why Plato would write the cave analogy or Buddhism would preach the parable of the Burning House suggesting that we live in dreams? Obviously either they are missing something or you are? How is one to know?
These stories are more about the search for truth and knowledge than they are about any sort of supernatural awakening. To me, the cave analogy is more about how there are higher truths beyond what we see right in front of us. One could interpret that as an analogy for religion, but it is not necessarily so. The burning house is analogous to Buddha trying to lead people to the truth. I'm curious, how did you come about the interpretation that it suggest we live in dreams?
As I' understand it, Man has the potential for conscious evolution but it can only be built on a foundation of experiencing ones inner life and the external world for what it is: the genuine seach for truth and knowledge. The chaotic human condition perverts the objective search preferring instead self justification and the defense of imagination. Religion is perverted to support this tendency for self justifiction.
This tendency is symbolized by the Devil in Christianity and Mara in Buddhism. Man is tempted to sacrifice the real for the imaginary. Sacrificing attachment to the goals of the "world," "false gods" and the meanings they supply for the sake of conscious growth, becoming oneself. The secularization of religion has largely led to justifying our imagination.
Here is a bit about Mara.
http://buddhism.about.com/od/iconsofbuddhism/a/mara.htm
