RE: I'm an atheist but I quite like Buddism...
January 12, 2015 at 2:29 pm
(This post was last modified: January 12, 2015 at 2:36 pm by tantric.)
Only Buddhas follow the path perfectly. I mess up all the time - but those are my guidelines.
I fail to understand this demand for exclusivity. Of course you can find all the parts of Buddhism in other things. Nothing has inherent existence - everything is compounded. Buddhists practice and believe in all kinds of magic and woo stuff. So do atheists. Atheism and Buddhism are not of the same category, obviously, or should I hold you accountable for all the practices and deed of self-proclaimed atheists? That would be mindless. I strive to be detached from my views, to accept change and new knowledge. Would you continue to be an atheist if God appeared in your living for a chat? I like the fourteen precepts, but obviously they are not eternal or perfect.
re: humanism...
the buddha taught that humans are at a special point between animal and divinity - we are self-aware, yet we still suffer. because of this humans, and only humans, can attain enlightenment and transcend suffering. gods, if they exist, cannot - their suffering is too subtle to be an effective learning tool. the goal of buddhism is the end of human suffering - the Four Noble Truths are: the human condition is suffering (in the sense of being unsatisfactory, meaning mental suffering), this suffering comes from attachments and desires for things mental and physical, it is possible to free from suffering, the best way to be free from suffering is to lead an ethical life (see guidelines) and practice mindfulness (maintain a nondualist POV). is that magic? is it irrational? we've tested it, empirically, for 2,500 years. it's what monks do - they are ethical and mindful and as a result lead deeply fulfilling and satisfying lives, otherwise, obviously, they'd do something else. all of us buddhists try, and, as they say, YMMV. i do my best, and i know it works for me. how on earth could you possibly have a problem with that?
just out of curiousity, what is your purpose in life? do you have joy and peace in your life - do you know how to cultivate that? do you seek it? seriously, how do you address the fundamental challenge of living well? i'm asking for your plans and intentions, i know that individual lives contain bumps and detours and mishaps.
I fail to understand this demand for exclusivity. Of course you can find all the parts of Buddhism in other things. Nothing has inherent existence - everything is compounded. Buddhists practice and believe in all kinds of magic and woo stuff. So do atheists. Atheism and Buddhism are not of the same category, obviously, or should I hold you accountable for all the practices and deed of self-proclaimed atheists? That would be mindless. I strive to be detached from my views, to accept change and new knowledge. Would you continue to be an atheist if God appeared in your living for a chat? I like the fourteen precepts, but obviously they are not eternal or perfect.
re: humanism...
the buddha taught that humans are at a special point between animal and divinity - we are self-aware, yet we still suffer. because of this humans, and only humans, can attain enlightenment and transcend suffering. gods, if they exist, cannot - their suffering is too subtle to be an effective learning tool. the goal of buddhism is the end of human suffering - the Four Noble Truths are: the human condition is suffering (in the sense of being unsatisfactory, meaning mental suffering), this suffering comes from attachments and desires for things mental and physical, it is possible to free from suffering, the best way to be free from suffering is to lead an ethical life (see guidelines) and practice mindfulness (maintain a nondualist POV). is that magic? is it irrational? we've tested it, empirically, for 2,500 years. it's what monks do - they are ethical and mindful and as a result lead deeply fulfilling and satisfying lives, otherwise, obviously, they'd do something else. all of us buddhists try, and, as they say, YMMV. i do my best, and i know it works for me. how on earth could you possibly have a problem with that?
just out of curiousity, what is your purpose in life? do you have joy and peace in your life - do you know how to cultivate that? do you seek it? seriously, how do you address the fundamental challenge of living well? i'm asking for your plans and intentions, i know that individual lives contain bumps and detours and mishaps.
My book, a setting for fantasy role playing games based on Bantu mythology: Ubantu
