This points to the simpler reality, suffering being none other than the
belief in/attachment to suffering. The nature of this realized,
cessation is effortless.
KG
On 9/9/2012 10:49 AM, mike brown wrote:
Merle,
Buddha proposed a simple test for this. If what you follow/believe
causes suffering - drop it. If it doesn't... "go for it"!
Mike
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*From:* Merle Lester <[email protected]>
*To:* "[email protected]" <[email protected]>
*Sent:* Saturday, 8 September 2012, 22:49
*Subject:* Re: [Zen] Re: THE BASIC TEACHING OF BUDDHA
what ever gets you there folks..go for it...merle
On 9/8/2012 2:36 PM, mike brown wrote:
Belief has nothing to do with it. Whether Jesus or Buddha was a
historical person,or not, makes no difference - the Buddhist
teachings speak to me because they correspond to my experiences time
after time. Christianity doesn't. Neither does Wicca or Scientology.
That doesn't bother me. Does it bother you?
Nope.
Biblical lingo does not ring to many contemporary ears (particulary
thise who think it does and "believe"), as we are not raised with oral
traditions and metaphors the refer to yet older metaphors. I certain
wasn't - but wasn't raised Neo-Christian fundamentalist either. Pretty
atheist environment, very minimal church exposure - handful of visits
in a lifetime, most weddings/funerals, only a few services with
friends, and that was mixed denominations.
I other words, I get where you coming from, and probably has less
history with such shit. No dog in that fight, I can simply now see the
same core is there, just a very different expression. I'm still
working on Islam - Sufis help - but I suspect they were around before
Islam and just changed the sign on the door (many Muslims also suspect
this and persecute them accordingly).
Buddhism IMWO / TMSE (in my worthless opinion/to my simple ears) has
done a better job of adjusting it's voice - a tradition of Upaya along
with a reformation/back to basics split every few centuries or so
helps - but contemporary particularly Western ears still read the
teaching too scientifically/literally.
But as you say, so what? Buddha had no interest in Buddhism.
KG
