TMingyur wrote:Hanzze wrote:There's no reality except the one contained within us. That's why so many people live an unreal life. They take images outside them for reality and never allow the world within them to assert itself.
Hermann Hesse
And in fantasizing about others' qualities and characteristics and thus fostering distraction you are following Hesse's footsteps?
Hesse was raised in a conservative christian environment, perhaps this motivated him. Christianity upholds saviours.
Kind regards
I think he said that he finds "Siddharta" useful to understand Buddhism. He didn't even say in which way.
Plus, this quote doesn't seem to be from Siddharta.
When you say:
in fantasising about others' qualities and characteristics and thus fostering distraction,
is that really necessarily bad and "fostering distraction"?
When I reflect upon the Buddhas qualities and characteristics, do I foster distraction? No, it is an inspiration for me.
Who knows if that isn't what Hanzze is doing, when he reflects upon Siddharta and Buddha?
Hesse was raised in a conservative christian environment, perhaps this motivated him. Christianity upholds saviours.
And Buddha grew up in a Hindu environment. Perhaps this motivated him?
I'm not trying to dismiss what you said, -just adding some of my thoughts.
Kind regards