David B

Dunno why this was posted, but I must say that I prefer sacred texts which have some sort of hold on reality to them.

'All that we are' is not the result of what we have thought. It is, among other things, the result of our genetic inheritence (both that common to all humans, and our individual ones), the result of hormone levels in our mothers during pregnancy, what we have eaten, our cultural inputs blah blah blah.

That's the trouble with quoting gurus from ancient times (or for that matter modern) - they tend to be ignorant. It is quite clear that I know more about the human condition than whoever it was wrote that verse - you'd be better off taking on boaed what I say.

Also, mind is not the forerunner of all states. Mind is an evolved, emergent thing, and all the evidence suggests that there was a time before life and before mind.

What drivel!!!

David B (is not impressed)

perfectbite

Wasn't David B the one who had some powerful experiences with TM?


Pricking one's finger with a pin is a powerful experience.


Perhaps that is what David B takes for a powerful experience?

JGL53

Thrillhouse, if you're still checking this thread - I'm sure that devout Buddhists of all stripes are as happy as pigs in shit. More power to them. But, like me, you are a western atheist (scientific materialist). If you jump right into the deep end of the Buddhist pool at the get go, you could very well be utterly confused by such a radically different way of perceiving reality.

I think you would be well advised to start off slowly. Check your local library or book store (perhaps a good used book store) and see what books you can find by Alan Watts. He is the best source of an overview of all the eastern thought philosophies (or ways of enlightenment, really). Then, if you have the time and inclination, you can delve deeper into Buddhism, Taoism, or esoteric Vedanta or Hinduism to see if there is something there.

It may turn out that you will decide to go whole hog and start doing the meditation thing in the Lotus position, obtain a guru, travel to Tibet, become a monk, take a vow of celibacy or whatever – or not - but first, read Alan Watts. Remember that name - Alan Watts.

Answerer

Thrillhouse, before you listen to JGL's words. Please know the fact that he is a guy who supported the nuking of Islamic cities just to fight terrorism. Here's the proof:

http://www.iidb.org/vbb/poll.php?do=...ts&pollid=2436

Check the names of the poll of those who agree and you will see who is the true radical.

lenrek

It sounds radical only when most people don't see what reality is.

That is true. One should take his time, as much as he likes, to understand the material that he is interested.

Nah... Reading the source directly is much better than reading it through another person's views.

For beginner, the views of others maybe of help to ease the process of understanding and investigation. However, ultimately and eventually, one should go straight into the scriptures and read about them.

There are some translated version as well, all comes with some notes for ease of reading.

Wisdom Publications - Canonical Texts

Maybe these books can be found in your local library or book store.

perfectbite

Answerer. I looked at the poll but I cannot see that the poll supported nuking Islamic cities. The poll just asked what the reaction to nuking islamic cities would be.

That is a far, far cry from calling for the nuking of Islamic cities and Islamic holy places.

David B

Responses to questions and statements in order.

Yes

Well, it's an experience.

You're making it up as you go along, aren't you? It is logically possible that it could be what I take as a powerful experience. But I had experiences of almost overwhelming bliss and feelings of union with the universe somewhat more in mind.

Now to add a bit to response. I'd suggest that people falling over and twitching in protestant revivalist meetings are having powerful experiences, as are many of those who get to the Haj in Mecca, Bathe in the Ganges after a long pilgrimage, go to Lourdes...... There are certainly subjective accounts which lead one to believe that all these can give, minimally, some people at some times very powerful experiences.

I don't have a problem in accepting that people in Buddhist Ashrams and/or meditating in any Buddhist style can have deep experiences.

But I see no reason to believe, and reason to disbelieve, that any of these experiences are other that just experiences, without value in actually understanding the nature of life, the universe, or anything.

The fact that the verses quoted both start with premises which are demonstrably plain wrong reinforces this view.

All the best

David B

pescifish

<mod note>

Please keep to the topic at hand for this thread. Commenting on another user's entry in a political scenario Internet poll has no relationship to the discussion regarding an interest in Buddhism.

Additionally, I would like to advise Answerer to avoid derailing threads of other unrelated topics in any forums of this board with such information.

Thank you,

pescifish
ICR Moderator

</note>

JGL53

The poll in question was a hypothetical - my thanks to perfectbite for explaining the situation.

And you make my point for me – i.e., it seems quite radical until you understand what reality really is. So, thank you.

You could be right. I am just advising from my own perspective and my own experience. If Thrillhouse chooses to just jump right in, then no skin off of my or anyone else's back.

We're all just trying to give him our best personal advice. In the final analysis my advice may not be worth a bucket of warm spit to him - and ditto anyone else's. And since god is dead, there is no infallible arbiter to decide who is right and who is wrong.

Answerer

I had my reasons for saying that. But I'm forbidden to say it out here.

My apology for the moderator for the slight derailing of thread. I was carried away by the recent discussion of terrorism in other forums.