greenjuice wrote:No_Mind wrote:As far as my lack of belief in rebirth and Nibbana. It is hardly an unique position that I alone have. Many modern Buddhists have to struggle to come to terms with rebirth (and if one struggles to come to terms with rebirth one cannot entirely believe in Nibbana which is release from cycle of rebirths).
Many modern Buddhists reject Buddha's teaching, so, that means that it's Buddhist to reject Buddha's teaching, is that what you're saying?
Without beliveing in rebirth, what's the point of calling oneself a Buddhist or talking about Buddha? Not only one rejects what is clearly a teaching of Buddha, but by rejecting rebirth, one then makes the four noble truths meaninless. If rebirth doesn't exist, then the four noble truths are obviously false.
There is nothing wrong in not being a Buddhist, you can be a non-buddhist that finds some Buddha's words appealing and worth following, but calling yourself a Buddhist while rejecting the core and bulk of Buddha's teaching is just lying to yourself and others.
Without going into an extended debate about rebirth, I have to point out that I wrote "Many modern Buddhists have to struggle to come to terms with rebirth", not as you have wrongly quoted me "Many modern Buddhists reject Buddha's teaching, so, that means that it's Buddhist to reject Buddha's teaching, is that what you're saying?"
I find your definition of who is a Buddhist very constricting. Buddha allowed us complete freedom to understand the Dhamma at our own pace, with our own life, our own experiences. I believe the Pali term is ehipassiko "come and see".
Buddha is hardly concerned if we accept or reject rebirth. The principal point he would have appreciated is if we are living a Dhammic life. Nowhere does he say if one does not accept rebirth one is breaking a cardinal rule and if that was the case he would have made it a part of precepts.
The principal point is am I living in accordance with Dhamma "now". If I am, and if every moment I am doing that, it matters little if I believe in rebirth or not. If every moment I live in accordance with Dhamma, it matters little to Buddha if I believe rebirth exists or not. Dhammic living is the key, not beliefs. The practice is the key (at least that is what I have understood from reading about Buddhism)
Would you say Buddhadasa Bhikkhu with his moment to moment rebirth interpretation was not a Buddhist? I understand he does not represent majority view of Theravada Buddhism but I find him very reasonable.
You may not believe I am a Buddhist. That is your prerogative.
manas wrote:I don't even slap a mosquito that is biting me; I blow it away gently, so as not to hurt it. But there are situations in which being too rigid with this rule, seems excessive. For example, if you have head lice, what will you do? If you have a tapeworm infestation? Or if termites are destroying your home, and you have young kids? Sometimes, not with any anger, but just out of necessity, it can be necessary for a layperson to kill, unfortunately. But one ought to avoid it as much as possible. But really, no matter what anyone says, I don't believe they would just let the lice breed in their hair, keep feeling their tapeworms like beloved internal pets, or allow termites to completely eat away their family home. Sometimes we just can't be totally perfect.
That is exactly my position also Manas. I avoid killing unless it is essential. Before killing I will explore all other options and think for very long while. But if there is no other way (like lice or worms) I will have to kill.
"The struggle itself toward the heights is enough to fill a man's heart. One must imagine Sisyphus happy.”― Albert Camus