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Have you considered that maybe the only path to victory for Buddhism is by being flexible enough to rise above the bollucks? I'm not a Buddhist, but in its ath

by GlennS 5y ago

Have you considered that maybe the only path to victory for Buddhism is by being flexible enough to rise above the bollucks? I'm not a Buddhist, but in its atheist forms (which aren't only Western) it seems like it's close enough to reality. If my choice is between abandoning religion entirely (because I'm a pedant who spends all my time with computers that won't accept anything unless it's technically correct), or having a think about it because you abandoned the literal truth of your literal texts in favour of some useful metaphors, then maybe I'll think about it? This is my counter-offer to Pascal's wager.

joeberon 5y ago
> Have you considered that maybe the only path to victory for Buddhism is by being flexible enough to rise above the bollucks? If it were true that such flexibility in doctrine were necessary for liberation, the Buddha would have taught it. I'm not interested in convincing you to take up Buddhism at all. You can if you want, it would be good for you, but I fundamentally don't care. The thing I do care about, is if you're gonna do it, don't go out and start pretending that Buddhism is something that it really isn't, especially if you have not done much research into it. Personally, I would prefer you don't get involved in Buddhism at all rather than try and draw some narrow metaphors out of Buddhist texts for use in your secular life.
- GlennS 5y ago
  Our ideas are incompatible, as you have quickly identified. I wish you well, and I hope that your ambitions to defend traditional buddhist culture will help people. I hope you will take some solace that I hope to reduce others' suffering, even though I have no faith, and believe faith to be wishful thinking.
  - joeberon 5y ago
    Faith is a fundamental part of Buddhism. Even if you decided to become a Buddhist now, it is really unlikely you would be able to achieve significant progress, because we are in the Dharma ending age and only extremely high capacity individuals have the chance to liberation... If you are interested in Buddhism, your best chance at liberation is to put your faith in Amitabha's vow and hope for a rebirth in his Pure Land, which is basically the ultimate Buddhist training camp. Namo Amitabha Buddha!

by GlennS 5y ago

joeberon 5y ago

> Have you considered that maybe the only path to victory for Buddhism is by being flexible enough to rise above the bollucks? If it were true that such flexibility in doctrine were necessary for liberation, the Buddha would have taught it. I'm not interested in convincing you to take up Buddhism at all. You can if you want, it would be good for you, but I fundamentally don't care. The thing I do care about, is if you're gonna do it, don't go out and start pretending that Buddhism is something that it really isn't, especially if you have not done much research into it. Personally, I would prefer you don't get involved in Buddhism at all rather than try and draw some narrow metaphors out of Buddhist texts for use in your secular life.

GlennS 5y ago
Our ideas are incompatible, as you have quickly identified. I wish you well, and I hope that your ambitions to defend traditional buddhist culture will help people. I hope you will take some solace that I hope to reduce others' suffering, even though I have no faith, and believe faith to be wishful thinking.
- joeberon 5y ago
  Faith is a fundamental part of Buddhism. Even if you decided to become a Buddhist now, it is really unlikely you would be able to achieve significant progress, because we are in the Dharma ending age and only extremely high capacity individuals have the chance to liberation... If you are interested in Buddhism, your best chance at liberation is to put your faith in Amitabha's vow and hope for a rebirth in his Pure Land, which is basically the ultimate Buddhist training camp. Namo Amitabha Buddha!