How Enlighten Was Buddha

[CynthiaCypher]

Suffering and death don't necessarily go together.

I know the difference between existential suffering and pain. Thank you very much.

But if you can self-hypnotize yourself into believing that you aren't suffering anymore (BTW, suffering and pain are two different things in this case), isn't that kind of equivalent to elimination of suffering?

I guess it would be. But it is also self-deception.

 

[Riverwolf]

I guess it would be. But it is also self-deception.

Except that it's slowly turning that 'lie' into a truth via placebo effect.

 

[CynthiaCypher]

Except that it's slowly turning that 'lie' into a truth via placebo effect.

The placebo effect is still the mind deceiving itself.

Most religions, including Buddhism work on this principle.

Religious people may fool themselves into believing that they have somehow overcame death but the only thing they really achieve is denial. And denial is not much of an accomplishment.

Now embracing and fearlessly facing death and suffering without denial, now that is an accomplishment few religions offer.

 

[Riverwolf]

The placebo effect is still the mind deceiving itself.

Most religions, including Buddhism work on this principle.

Religious people may fool themselves into believing that they have somehow overcame death but the only thing they really achieve is denial. And denial is not much of an accomplishment.

Now embracing and fearlessly facing death and suffering without denial, now that is an accomplishment few religions offer.

Maybe I misspoke. It's early in the morning.

Personally, I think that joy is the default, and suffering is the illusion. After all, joy is what we're born with; we're taught to suffer.

How's this? Recapture that childlike joy.

BTW, Buddhism has nothing to do with overcoming death.

 

[CynthiaCypher]

Maybe I misspoke. It's early in the morning.

Personally, I think that joy is the default, and suffering is the illusion. After all, joy is what we're born with; we're taught to suffer.

How's this? Recapture that childlike joy.

BTW, Buddhism has nothing to do with overcoming death.

Neither joy nor suffering are the default. Both are intrinsic to the universe or Pleroma. Both come from God.

 

[Riverwolf]

Neither joy nor suffering are the default. Both are intrinsic to the universe or Pleroma. Both come from God.

Not what I meant.

I meant that joy is the default human experience.

 

[Bob Dixon]

Neither joy nor suffering are the default. Both are intrinsic to the universe or Pleroma. Both come from God.

Now, on that, I'll chime in to disagree.
Both are products of the mind/body, human responses to situations we're put in. We've been naturally selected to have these emotional responses, so we do. Joy and suffering don't exist outside of us, so it is our responsibility to strive towards the beneficial and avoid the harmful.

 

[Twilight Hue]

Religious people may fool themselves into believing that they have somehow overcame death but the only thing they really achieve is denial. And denial is not much of an accomplishment.

Actually not accurate. The fact that you did not "exist" prior to your conception is overcoming death in a direct sense. Hardly a placebo when regarded at least in that manner. I agree with you as far as embellishments and fabrications go.

 

[CynthiaCypher]

Actually not accurate. The fact that you did not "exist" prior to your conception is overcoming death in a direct sense.

Please tell me in what universe or language that even begins to make sense in. That has absolutely no logic to it whatsoever.

 

[CynthiaCypher]

Buddhism has nothing to do with overcoming death.

Are you kidding me? Ever read the story of the Buddha?

 

[atanu]

When I read about Buddha I admit there is alot to admire. But I don't see how people can look up to him as some sort of supreme enlightened being.

He was a blatant misogynist in fact. I don't care were you come from...misogyny is not a sign of being enlightened. I understand how people look up to him, he said some very nice things but we also have to accept he also said some very not so nice things about women.

So why should people look to the Buddha for enlightenment when the Buddha is ignorant in regards to women?

Cynthia

I thought over and i seem to agree. Buddha was not light. He was about 80 kilograms.

:cover:

 

[CynthiaCypher]

Cynthia

I thought over and i seem to agree. Buddha was not light. He was about 80 kilograms.

:cover:

Actually I think the Buddha was very thin inside and out.

 

[atanu]

Actually I think the Buddha was very thin inside and out.

That also is correct. :yes:

 

[Twilight Hue]

Please tell me in what universe or language that even begins to make sense in. That has absolutely no logic to it whatsoever.

Simple. It's factual and logical you arose from death. Tell me that isn't so.

 

[MysticSang'ha]

Is this thread specifically about Buddha being a misogynist? Or was the intention to offer a full-scale critique on the entire Dharma?

I'm confused on how to respond now.

 

[CynthiaCypher]

Simple. It's factual and logical you arose from death. Tell me that isn't so.

No it's not. You don't arise from the dead unless your dead first. You are the enemy of logic and facts.

 

[CynthiaCypher]

Is this thread specifically about Buddha being a misogynist? Or was the intention to offer a full-scale critique on the entire Dharma?

I'm confused on how to respond now.

I don't know. Make of it what you will.

 

[Sunstone]

When I read about Buddha I admit there is alot to admire. But I don't see how people can look up to him as some sort of supreme enlightened being.

Admiring the Buddha makes almost as much sense as having sex with an usher on your wedding night, rather than with your groom. Buddhism does not depend on the personality of the Buddha in the way that Christianity depends so much on the personality of Jesus. At most, the Buddha himself is important because he demonstrated that a human can become enlightened. That's at most. And that was already demonstrated by others before his time. Keep in mind the Zen saying, "If you see the Buddha on the road, kill him!"

 

[CynthiaCypher]

Admiring the Buddha makes almost as much sense as having sex with an usher on your wedding night, rather than with your groom. Buddhism does not depend on the personality of the Buddha in the way that Christianity depends so much on the personality of Jesus. At most, the Buddha himself is important because he demonstrated that a human can become enlightened. That's at most. And that was already demonstrated by others before his time. Keep in mind the Zen saying, "If you see the Buddha on the road, kill him!"

I don't believe he was enlightened. So moot to ya.

 

[atanu]

---- Zen saying, "If you see the Buddha on the road, kill him!"

Actually I think the Buddha was very thin inside and out.

Both the above statements are same.