Quote:
Originally Posted by Skybird
Congrats, if that is so, then you are a fully realised Buddha, the returning messiah in Chrsitian terminology.....
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The key word there was
similar. I think you know what I meant, but I will give you the benefit of the doubt.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Skybird
Sigh. Atheists do not believe something...
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My original thought here had nothing to do with Atheism, but rather with Buddhism and meditation and Atheism's view of them. Buddhism is a religion, granted one without a deity. Meditation and Zen are directly related to this religion. For Atheists to criticize other religions and give Buddhism a pass is kinda funny.
Again I stress that Buddhism is not a theistic belief but many of the things criticized in Theistic religions are present in Buddhism. Some examples.
- The historical Buddha. Accounts of his life, discourses, and monastic rules are believed by Buddhists to have been summarized after his death and memorized by his followers. Various collections of teachings attributed to him were passed down by oral tradition, and first committed to writing about 400 years later. Gee that sounds familiar.
-Some of his teaching and beliefs.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Skybird
Buddha was asked oine day whether there is a surviving indiovidual soul, and he said a clear and sounding "No".
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Why should I believe this? Did he prove it or is it just his opinion? Billions of people would disagree.
-The Inequality of Women. Although in Western Buddhist practice this is not common in traditional practice and history, Buddhism is gender bias. Again this sounds familiar.
-Divisions within Buddhism. Buddhist traditions all claim that through a long and accurate teacher-student lineage, their practices were those ordained by the Buddha. Yet major divisions exist between the branches of Buddhism as to what practices are good, what are bad, and what the beliefs of the religion are.
There are many others but I think I've made my point. I realize that you are not a practising Buddhist but the relationship between Zen and meditation and Buddhism is quite plain. This has nothing to do with Atheism or belief in a deity.
It is about practising something whose origins are just as questionable as any religion.
If Zen and meditation have made your life better this is good. I am happy for you but it is not for me. I do not wish to replace my present reality of mind with another. I am at peace and have no enemies. I am confident about the future. Am I delusional? Well that's possible but it's a chance we all take. It's a dangerous world.
P.S.
To any Buddhist who may read this, I hope I have not offended you. The points made were for the sake of the discussion.
To quote MH, May the Schwartz be with you.........