RE: Thoughts on Buddhism
February 2, 2012 at 5:09 am
(This post was last modified: February 2, 2012 at 5:12 am by Bgood.)
Abracadabra wrote
Hmm...I never really thought of it that way. That is a very good insight. I am mostly attracted to Zen buddhism as I learn more about it. Taoism is also a great philosophy which I kind of automatically incorporated with my beliefs in Buddhism. Your last post is very informative and gives me some pause for reflection. You bring up alot of good points, especially when you mention how early Buddhism was geared toward escaping rebirth into the next life. It always seemed kind of backwards to me....I thought one would WANT to reincarnate into another human life after death, NOT stop that cycle! Yet perhaps if that cycle was stopped, something better would occur?? Who knows, but I see the point you are making that puts the focus on THIS life and THIS moment which ZEN does, as far more worthy of belief and acceptance than how Hindu/Buddhist Indians might percieve the teachings.
The Siddhartha tale of leaving his palace and such probably has some mythological exaggeration for sure as it was told and handed down for centuries as an oral tradition. I don't find it too hard to believe that he led a sheltered life within the walls when he was young though. I would guess that his realization and witnessing of old age, death, suffering was actually a more gradual "awakening" that occurred over many years rather than how in the story it sounds as if it happened overnight or over a couple of weeks or whatever. For "portable" reasons, I'm sure the Buddha's life was condensed and modified into a more parableistic form in order for it to be more easily remembered and shared with others. Probably happened with all the great religious founders I would suppose.
It is funny how you say that you are more of an 'unconventional' or 'maverick' or individualistic Wiccan in Wiccan circles. I think I am kind of like that in alot of Buddhist circles, in a sense, in that I am more freethinking and non attached to certain ideas. Or perhaps it is just that I am not as smart and educated on the subject as I like to think I am! lol But I think you got alot of good stuff to say Abracadabra and I enjoy your input and perspective. Take care and good luck in all you do!
Quote:The idea of Zen Buddhism is more along the lines of Taoism where the main focus is to come into harmony with life as much as possible (i.e. learn to flow with the Tao). After all, Zen Buddhism evolved after Buddhism from India had migrated through China and became intimately entangled with Taoism. So Zen Buddhism is really a mixture of Buddhism and Taoism.
Hmm...I never really thought of it that way. That is a very good insight. I am mostly attracted to Zen buddhism as I learn more about it. Taoism is also a great philosophy which I kind of automatically incorporated with my beliefs in Buddhism. Your last post is very informative and gives me some pause for reflection. You bring up alot of good points, especially when you mention how early Buddhism was geared toward escaping rebirth into the next life. It always seemed kind of backwards to me....I thought one would WANT to reincarnate into another human life after death, NOT stop that cycle! Yet perhaps if that cycle was stopped, something better would occur?? Who knows, but I see the point you are making that puts the focus on THIS life and THIS moment which ZEN does, as far more worthy of belief and acceptance than how Hindu/Buddhist Indians might percieve the teachings.
The Siddhartha tale of leaving his palace and such probably has some mythological exaggeration for sure as it was told and handed down for centuries as an oral tradition. I don't find it too hard to believe that he led a sheltered life within the walls when he was young though. I would guess that his realization and witnessing of old age, death, suffering was actually a more gradual "awakening" that occurred over many years rather than how in the story it sounds as if it happened overnight or over a couple of weeks or whatever. For "portable" reasons, I'm sure the Buddha's life was condensed and modified into a more parableistic form in order for it to be more easily remembered and shared with others. Probably happened with all the great religious founders I would suppose.
It is funny how you say that you are more of an 'unconventional' or 'maverick' or individualistic Wiccan in Wiccan circles. I think I am kind of like that in alot of Buddhist circles, in a sense, in that I am more freethinking and non attached to certain ideas. Or perhaps it is just that I am not as smart and educated on the subject as I like to think I am! lol But I think you got alot of good stuff to say Abracadabra and I enjoy your input and perspective. Take care and good luck in all you do!
You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.
There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth; not going all the way, and not starting.
Buddha
There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth; not going all the way, and not starting.
Buddha
