Do Buddhists have a soul?
When the mind/body sleeps are you conscious?
If not, just gossip and lack of technique. When the mind/body rots to nothing do you expect to be conscious?
Good luck with that.
What about rebirth?
What about superstition and ignorance? Attached to it? Why not aim for rebirth into a life we know?
But the Sutras?
But the Bible! Grow up.
Does it matter?
Some like to suffer over what they don’t know.
What about karma?
Seems so fair, so balanced, so ordered.
Seems like the first Noble Truth - existence is unsatisfactory, implies causality is independent of our pattern seeking … or is there a mysterious mechanism ensuring a well balanced universe?
But the Buddha remembered his past lives.
Did he? Perhaps as one would expect any well tutored and indoctrinated ego to manufacture?
The Buddha transcended lesser knowledge.
He did? Did all of his reporting team and fan club?
But … Buddhists are vegetarian, meditate, believe in reincarnation etc.
All of them?
Are you happy? Are you calm? Are you at peace?
If we could engage these qualities in ourself and others we would. To not do so would be crazy, selfish … even spiteful … This is why the dharma is unravelled for us. Are we fighting it? Are we frightened by it? Does it seem contrary, or weird? Perhaps so. Perhaps so what. Sometimes a reflection must distort itself to show our real natures. To just repeat cliches and platitudes is often the most available but wisdom will not give us things to nod sagely at. We will not sleep in the presence, we will be brought two levels beyond our comfort. When we find peace and calm and sanity, what will we do? Nothing to do? Nowhere to go? Please - be a Mensch, push a little more. Be kinder a little more urgently. I for one need all the help anyone can provide themselves with. Find out.
The Buddha did.
OM YA HA HUM
though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
I will fear no ignorance
for Mindfulness is Present
the Sitting and Sangha inspire me
Buddha Nature is present in my hindrances
and my thoughts are gone, Metta is activated
Certainty of kindness and generosity shall lead my actions
and I will dwell in samsara for all beings
Christian source:
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
When the mind/body sleeps are you conscious?
If not, just gossip and lack of technique. When the mind/body rots to nothing do you expect to be conscious?
Good luck with that.
What about rebirth?
What about superstition and ignorance? Attached to it? Why not aim for rebirth into a life we know?
But the Sutras?
But the Bible! Grow up.
Does it matter?
Some like to suffer over what they don’t know.
What about karma?
Seems so fair, so balanced, so ordered.
Seems like the first Noble Truth - existence is unsatisfactory, implies causality is independent of our pattern seeking … or is there a mysterious mechanism ensuring a well balanced universe?
But the Buddha remembered his past lives.
Did he? Perhaps as one would expect any well tutored and indoctrinated ego to manufacture?
The Buddha transcended lesser knowledge.
He did? Did all of his reporting team and fan club?
But … Buddhists are vegetarian, meditate, believe in reincarnation etc.
All of them?
Are you happy? Are you calm? Are you at peace?
If we could engage these qualities in ourself and others we would. To not do so would be crazy, selfish … even spiteful … This is why the dharma is unravelled for us. Are we fighting it? Are we frightened by it? Does it seem contrary, or weird? Perhaps so. Perhaps so what. Sometimes a reflection must distort itself to show our real natures. To just repeat cliches and platitudes is often the most available but wisdom will not give us things to nod sagely at. We will not sleep in the presence, we will be brought two levels beyond our comfort. When we find peace and calm and sanity, what will we do? Nothing to do? Nowhere to go? Please - be a Mensch, push a little more. Be kinder a little more urgently. I for one need all the help anyone can provide themselves with. Find out.
The Buddha did.
OM YA HA HUM
though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
I will fear no ignorance
for Mindfulness is Present
the Sitting and Sangha inspire me
Buddha Nature is present in my hindrances
and my thoughts are gone, Metta is activated
Certainty of kindness and generosity shall lead my actions
and I will dwell in samsara for all beings
Christian source:
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.