If there is no self, why am I having this experience?

[DavidFirth]

No He explicitly denied the existence of God in sense of Creator. He accepted the existence of deities who lived in heavens of various levels.

Based on what?

 

[David1967]

And don't fool yourself into thinking Buddha was anything other than a mortal created human being travelling through the Lands as a philosopher trying to make sense of the meaning of life.

That's exactly what he was, and to my knowledge he didn't claim to be anything but an enlightened human.

 

[George-ananda]

thinking you have the answers to those questions is just another delusion.

These answers are not ones that I came up with myself but ones that I accept from many advanced masters I respect. I think the Self-Realized masters of the Vedic tradition have REAL knowledge and present it to us in the best way we can understand.

I am the type that needs to understand some kind of end-game and big picture to all this before then becoming interested in practice. Perhaps I am by nature a top-down thinker (a minority I understand from psychologists).

 

[Rinchen]

The response from his followers is, Buddha accepted there was no Creator God, but there were divine beings with differing levels in the Heavens. Let's push on that opening a little and see where it leads...

It leads to there beings gods and goddessess, but they are still within the realm of samsara.

So then one would ask, who are these deities that exist in Heaven?

Samsaric Beings.

And don't fool yourself into thinking Buddha was anything other than a mortal created human being travelling through the Lands as a philosopher trying to make sense of the meaning of life.

Never did. The Buddha died, so did your mortal Mohammad, and everyone else that has ever existed on earth. The Buddha taught that death and impermanence are the highest contemplations. Nobody is exempt from those realities.

 

[Rinchen]

These answers are not ones that I came up with myself but ones that I accept from many advanced masters I respect. I think the Self-Realized masters of the Vedic tradition have REAL knowledge and present it to us in the best way we can understand.

All I have to say is, Ramana Maharshi rocks.

 

[David1967]

Dont fool yourself into thinking the Buddha did this to give hope for theists.

Keeping in mind that my limited knowledge of Buddhism as a whole comes mostly from the writings of Thich Nhat Hanh.

 

[Muslim-UK]

It leads to there beings gods and goddessess, but they are still within the realm of samsara.

Could you explain what Samsaric beings are? I could Google, but I'm sure it would benefit others if you kindly explained.

Never did. The Buddha died, so did your mortal Mohammad, and everyone else that has ever existed on earth. The Buddha taught that death and impermanence are the highest contemplations. Nobody is exempt from those realities.

That's what GOD says too, every soul will taste death and return to Him for reckoning. Even those who evaded death at His command, like Jesus pbuh will taste death before eventually returning to their Lord.

 

[Rinchen]

Could you explain what Samsaric beings are? I could Google, but I'm sure it would benefit others if you kindly explained.

That's what GOD says too, every soul will taste death and return to Him for reckoning. Even those who evaded death at His command, like Jesus pbuh will taste death before eventually returning to their Lord.

I have to step away from the computer for a little bit, but I will come back to explain it later, I wont forget!

 

[The Kilted Heathen]

We come out of nature as a wave comes out of the entire ocean before returning. So might one say that the wave is born out of the ocean, and that we are born out of nature?

Once could say that, yes. I've always disagreed with the notion of "selflessness", in that our selves are fairly vital to our human experience. Becoming more than human is something to be had at death; I don't think one should deny themselves this life for whatever reason.

 

[jackvincent]

We are sculpted into life by the Angel of Death. Christ never died, His physical body was murdered but His consciousness was continuous and merged with the Atman.

In shamanic terms this is the underworld or the realm of the dead. If you've ever used DMT or ayahuasca you will know your soul.

 

[DavidFirth]

We are sculpted into life by the Angel of Death. Christ never died, His physical body was murdered but His consciousness was continuous and merged with the Atman.

In shamanic terms this is the underworld or the realm of the dead. If you've ever used DMT or ayahuasca you will know your soul.

Did you get that from a book? If so, what book?

 

[Muslim-UK]

We are sculpted into life by the Angel of Death. Christ never died, His physical body was murdered but His consciousness was continuous and merged with the Atman.

In shamanic terms this is the underworld or the realm of the dead. If you've ever used DMT or ayahuasca you will know your soul.

For the unlearned in your philosophies, could you explain what DMT, Ayahuasca and Atman are?

 

[Nakosis]

This is a common idea in Buddhism.


We come out of nature as a wave comes out of the entire ocean before returning. So might one say that the wave is born out of the ocean, and that we are born out of nature?

Because there is a self.
I think the important idea is to understand the self is not permanent so don't become attached to it.

Like in accepting the self you now experience will someday no longer exist. This thought make you sad or fearful. This thought of self causes suffering. In order to avoid this suffering it is necessary to accept their is no permanent self. The self like the wave is only temporary.

So there is a self. I think you're only being ask to accept its impermanence.

 

[jackvincent]

Did you get that from a book? If so, what book?

A combination of my direct experience, and the books: the Bible, the Tibetan Book of the Dead, Be Here Now, Be Love Now, the Psychedelic Experience, and the Dhammapada.

I believe a quote very similar from Maharaji, Ram Dass' guru in "Be Love Now" is where I got this notion directly.

The quote is similar to "Christ never died. You don't understand. The killed him because he told the truth."

 

[DavidFirth]

A combination of my direct experience, and the books: the Bible, the Tibetan Book of the Dead, Be Here Now, Be Love Now, the Psychedelic Experience, and the Dhammapada.

I believe a quote very similar from Maharaji, Ram Dass' guru in "Be Love Now" is where I got this notion directly.

The quote is similar to "Christ never died. You don't understand. The killed him because he told the truth."

Okay, I've never heard of your faith before and just wondered where it came from.

 

[jackvincent]

Okay, I've never heard of your faith before and just wondered where it came from.

Love and direct experience are my only faiths.

Wow how could I leave out one of the most amazing commentaries on astral beings and the Angel of Death.

It is "How to Know Higher Worlds" by Rudolf Steiner.

And Tao Te Ching is great for most of my general philosophy.

 

[George-ananda]

All I have to say is, Ramana Maharshi rocks.

And note these masters post-date Buddha and really harmonize with Buddhism.

 

[DavidFirth]

Love and direct experience are my only faiths.

Wow how could I leave out one of the most amazing commentaries on astral beings and the Angel of Death.

It is "How to Know Higher Worlds" by Rudolf Steiner.

And Tao Te Ching is great for most of my general philosophy.

Were you of a different religion before you came to your present faith?

 

[jackvincent]

Were you of a different religion before you came to your present faith?

Yes, I was an atheist before God/the Angel of Death shoved life and death in my face, making me a member of all faiths. They all say the same thing. "To know thyself is to know Allah"

Large rocks in the Universe "people" in the way an apple tree "apples". These peopling rocks then produce fruits of their own which we know as religion, or a connection to the divine.

Basically, this is my last incarnation. I am either about to be liberated or annihilated for all of eternity. If I make it through my crucifixion Earth will be renewed and see the Second Coming.

 

[DavidFirth]

Yes, I was an atheist before God/the Angel of Death shoved life and death in my face, making me a member of all faiths. They all say the same thing. "To know thyself is to know Allah"

Large rocks in the Universe "people" in the way an apple tree "apples". These peopling rocks then produce fruits of their own which we know as religion, or a connection to the divine.

Basically, this is my last incarnation. I am either about to be liberated or annihilated for all of eternity. If I make it through my crucifixion Earth will be renewed and see the Second Coming.

Well, at least you're not an atheist anymore.