christopher::: wrote:
I'm skeptical when i read certain things, that the Buddha actually said them. Such skepticism arises, and its not usually based on emotion.
So, it based upon what? Careful study? Years of practice? What?
But i also recognize that i'm not nearly enlightened enough to make such distinctions, so i try (not always successfully) to be as open-minded and uncritical as possible.
You have gotten very cranky when I have shown that the Buddha’s teachings do not quite say what it looks you want them to say, but then you can dismiss that stuff I point to as stuff of which your are skeptical. So, again, what is the basis of your skepticism?
Given that from the time of the Buddha onwards in India, Buddhists have rejected the idea of a god of the Hindus that surrounded them, and the Hindus have characterized Buddhism as atheist. Is this something you are open minded to?
In the Gita, chapter XVI, 8:
'The universe," they say, "is without truth [
asat that which open to destruction and change, without an
atman/brahman, the Absolute within each of us],"
Without basis/unstable [having no solid ground
apratis.t.ham]
, without a God;
Brought about by a mutual union,
How else? It is caused by lust alone.'
This is a good caricature of the Buddhist position, and certainly the Buddhist position is that the world is unstable, constantly in change, without a basis or essence - an atman/brahman, and is without a god, "Brought about by a mutual union," and "caused by desire," all of which could be used to describe the Buddhist position, but no one else of the time.
And the Gita goes on, XVI, 9:
Holding this view,
These men of lost souls, of small intelligence,
And of cruel actions, come forth as enemies
Of the world for it destruction.
I would say that the authors of the Gita would not agree with you.
This is one reason, probably, that I have been most attracted to Zen Buddhism. If you read the writings of Seng Tsan, Shunryu Suzuki and others its emphasized frequently to keep an open mind and not become attached to views, even when those views are presented in Buddhist texts as "truths"...
And you are not attached to any view in this matter? And you are suggesting I do not have an open mind?
Last I looked Buddhism is not a make-it-up-as-you-go thing.