Buddhism cannot be discussed openly?
-
Do you acknowledge that the scientific method was developed long long after Buddhism was founded? If let us assume for a moment that Buddha foresaw the advent of the scientific method... how is he going to explain that to his disciples 2550 years ago? So he said, discard my teachings that has become irrelevant... that also means to discard all those teachings that might make sense to the people 2550 years ago but cannot be accepted today.Originally posted by An Eternal Now:I never said it cannot be wrong.
I said it was never wrong so far.
Also - I doubt Roman Catholic teachings have discarded much of their teachings. What they discarded so far are things that are Discredit and Disproven by science.
For example, Christians recently still believed that the Earth was created some 7000 years ago - this is outrightly wrong and is disproven by science. Therefore the Christians will have to accept it.
But in Buddhism, there is nothing that is against what scientists found.
But you people say things that sounds so good... Buddhism will adept to whatever new discoveries in this world but but but... don't touch this ah, don't change that ah.... no matter what the evidence say and no matter what the new knowledge and discoveries are...... you are so blind. -
See what you just did? Buddha asked you himself to discard his teachings and you say never! You greater than the master?Originally posted by An Eternal Now:None of the truths Buddha taught are unfounded - and eventually you will realise it yourself. What we need to do, is to take note of it. There is no need to believe it completely until we see ourselves. But neither should a person be obstructed by sceptism - the key word here is Open Mind. -
Yes sure.... please go on and indulge in your fantasies. Just read my previous posts in this thread again and say those words again.Originally posted by An Eternal Now:But in Buddhism, there is nothing that is against what scientists found. -
Furthermore, the entire teaching of Buddha was a very scientifically systematic, 'experimentational' way, which is a clear distinction and difference from other religions or even mystical contemplative systems.Originally posted by casino_king:
Do you acknowledge that the scientific method was developed long long after Buddhism was founded?[/quote]
The Scientific Method was already followed by Buddha 2500 years ago - even though only recently do humans implement in other aspects of science.If let us assume for a moment that Buddha foresaw the advent of the scientific method... how is he going to explain that to his disciples 2550 years ago? So he said, discard my teachings that has become irrelevant... that also means to discard all those teachings that might make sense to the people 2550 years ago but cannot be accepted today.
Like I said, Buddha's method was not at all against scientific method.
Pls see my previous post on it (which I have repeatedly pasted over and over again).Originally posted by An Eternal Now:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_method
Scientific method refers to a body of techniques for the investigation of phenomena and the acquisition of new knowledge of the natural world, as well as the correction and integration of previous knowledge, based on observable, empirical, measurable evidence, and subject to laws of reasoning.
-----
Under this definition, then Buddhism CERTAINLY is a Scientific Method. But its techniques are DIFFERENT from those that you more often know. Like I said, don't confuse Biology with Physics, Chemistry with Arts. And also, Buddhism also deals with that which is beyond the 'natural world'.
"Buddhism has the characteristics of what would be expected in a cosmic religion for the future: it transcends a personal God, avoids dogmas and theology; it covers both the natural & spiritual, and it is based on a religious sense aspiring from the experience of all things, natural and spiritual, as a meaningful unity"
-- Albert Einstein [1954, from Albert Einstein: The Human Side, edited by Helen Dukas and Banesh Hoffman, Princeton University Press]
"The religion of the future will be a cosmic religion. The religion which is based on experience, which refuses dogmatism. If there's any religion that would cope the scientific needs it will be BuddhismÂ…"
-- Albert Einstein
See Buddhism and Science article[/b]Originally posted by An Eternal Now:
More from the Scientific Method webpage:
* Consistent. Generates no obvious logical contradictions, and 'saves the phenomena', being consistent with observation.
* Parsimonious. Economical in the number of assumptions and hypothetical entities.
* Pertinent. Describes and explains observed phenomena.
* Falsifiable and testable. See Falsifiability and Testability.
* Reproducible. Makes predictions that can be tested by any observer, with trials extending indefinitely into the future.
* Correctable and dynamic. Subject to modification as new observations are made.
* Integrative, robust, and corrigible. Subsumes previous theories as approximations, and allows possible subsumption by future theories. See Correspondence principle
* Provisional or tentative. Does not assert the absolute certainty of the theory.
------
So far, Buddhism fulfills ALL of it
Being a contemplative system Free from dogmatism but self-realisation, self-observation....Buddhism is like a kind of science, although it deals with a different field of things with different approach to seeking truths. Why do I say scientific? Because Buddha's way of teaching is scientific. Even when compared to other systems of Mystic contemplative systems like Christian Mysticism, Islamic Sufism, Hindu, Taoism, New Age etc - no other religions had that kind of 'scientific' approach. Other mystical traditions tend to personify their mystical realisations/experiences of divinity/pure consciousness (i.e Christ within - union with God), and in terms of clarity falls still fall short of Buddha's level of understanding - although what they realised is also not different Buddhism, it is a stage whereby a contemplative will have to go through. Buddhism also provides a Systematic way of experiencing reality. What I meant by systematic and scientific - for example, in modern science, we will say: Given any event E1, there is an Event E2 that follows E1 after time interval T1, we can say that E1 is the cause of E2.... the causality aspect, this is, that is.. this exists, that exists.
Now, compare it with Buddhism - the teaching that started more than 2500 years ago. We learn about the 12 Links of Interdependant Origination, etc. By 'reversing' and eliminating the Interdependant Origination Links of Origination one may again arrive at the point where there is no more trace of ignorance. Buddha's method of teaching is very systematic throughout. It also ensures no confusion among practitioners and that everyone will be able to arrive at the same grounds at the end of their path.
Samsara is like a sickness; the Buddha, who was called the Great Physician,
offers a cure; but the patient must recognize the illness, with its causes, its symptoms, and its effects, before the cure can begin. - 12 Links of Interdependant OriginationBut you people say things that sounds so good... Buddhism will adept to whatever new discoveries in this world but but but... don't touch this ah, don't change that ah.... no matter what the evidence say and no matter what the new knowledge and discoveries are...... you are so blind.[/b]
Like I said - science has never discredited or disproven anything buddha said SO FAR. Doesn't mean Buddhists will not accept if science were to disproof what Buddha said - but what I meant is Buddhism is completely compatible with modern science.
Lastly I do see your point and I do agree with what you and concerned_man suggested:
[quote]Originally posted by concerned_man:hmm....
I still stand for this:
To bend our faith to fit the facts than to bend the facts to fit the faith.
Amitabha -
Originally posted by An Eternal Now:
Please back up this claim before we go on.
The Scientific Method was already followed by Buddha 2500 years ago - even though only recently do humans implement in other aspects of science. -
Buddhism and Science articleOriginally posted by casino_king:Please back up this claim before we go on.
Exerpt:Originally posted by concerned_man:Come and See for Yourself
If you had just one person who had been confirmed as medically dead who could describe to the doctors, as soon as they were revived, what had been said, and done during that period of death, wouldn't that be pretty convincing? When I was doing elementary particle physics there was a theory that required for its proof the existence of what was called the 'W' particle. At the cyclotron in Geneva, CERN funded a huge research project, smashing atoms together with an enormous particle accelerator, to try and find one of these 'W' particles. They spent literally hundreds of millions of pounds on this project. They found one, just one 'W' particle. I don't think they have found another since. But once they found one 'W' particle, the researchers involved in that project were given Nobel prizes for physics. They had proved the theory by just finding the one 'W' particle. That's good science. Just one is enough to prove the theory.
When it comes to things we don't like to believe, they call just one experience, one clear factual undeniable experience, an anomaly. Anomaly is a word in science for disconcerting evidence that we can put in the back of a filing cabinet and not look at again, because it's threatens our worldview. It undermines what we want to believe. It is threatening to our dogma. However, an essential part of the scientific method is that theories have to be abandoned in favour of the evidence, in respect of the facts. The point is that the evidence for a mind independent of the brain is there. But once we admit that evidence, and follow the scientific method, then many cherished theories, what we call 'sacred cows' will have to be abandoned.
When we see something that challenges any theory, in science or in religion, we should not ignore the evidence. We have to change the theory to fit the facts. That is what we do in Buddhism. All the Dhamma of the Buddha, everything that he taught, if it does not fit the experience, then we should not accept it. We should not accept the Buddha's words in contradiction of experience. That is clearly stated in the Kālāma Sutta. (AN III, 65) The Buddha said do not believe because it is written in the books, or even if I say it. Don't just believe because it is tradition, or because it sounds right, or because it's comforting to you. Make sure it fits your experience. The existence of mind, independent of the brain, fits experience. The facts are there.
Sometimes, however, we cannot trust the experts. You cannot trust Ajahn Brahm. You cannot trust the scientific journals. Because people are often biased. Buddhism gives you a scientific method for your practice. Buddhism says, do the experiment and find out for your self if what the Buddha said is true or not. Check out your experience. For example, develop the method to test the truth of past lives, rebirth and reincarnation. Don't just believe it with faith, find out for yourself. The Buddha has given a scientific experiment that you can repeat.
Until you understand the law of kamma, which is part of Buddhism, kamma is just a theory. Do you believe that there is a God 'up there' who decides when you can be happy or unhappy? Or is everything that happens to you just chance? Your happiness and your suffering in life, your joy, your pain and disappointments, are they deserved? Are you responsible or is it someone else's fault? Is it mere chance that we are rich or poor? Is it bad luck when we are sick and die at a young age? Why? You can find the true answer for yourself. You can experience the law of kamma through deep meditation. When the Buddha sat under the Bodhi tree at Bodhgaya, the two knowledge's he realized just before his Enlightenment were the knowledge from experience of the truth of rebirth, and the knowledge from experience of the Law of kamma. This was not theory, not just more thinking, not something worked out from discussions around the coffee table this was realization from deep experience of the nature of mind. You too can have that same experience.
All religions in the world except Buddhism maintain the existence of a soul. They affirm a real 'self', an 'essence of all being', a 'person', a 'me'. Buddhism says there is no self! Who is right? What is this 'ghost in the machine'? Is it a soul, is it a being, or is it a process? What is it? When the Buddha said that there is no one in here, he never meant that to be just believed, he meant that to be experienced. The Buddha said, as a scientific fact, that there is no 'self'. But like any scientific fact, it has to be experienced each one for themselves, paccattam veditabbo viññūhī. Many of you chant those Pāli words every day. It is basic scientific Buddhism. You have to keep an open mind. You don't believe there is 'no self', you don't believe there is a 'self' both beliefs are dogmatism. Keep an open mind until you complete the experiment. The experiment is the practice of sila, samādhi and pañña, (virtue, meditation and insight). The experiment is Buddhist practice. Do the same experimental procedures that the Buddha did under the Bodhi tree. Repeat it and see if you get the same results. The result is called Enlightenment.
Men and women have repeated that experiment many times over the centuries. It is in the laboratory of Buddhist practice that the Enlightened Ones, the Arahants, arise. The Arahants are the ones who have done the experiment and found the result. That's why Buddhism always has been the scientific way. It is the way of finding out for your self the truth of Enlightenment. -
Did Buddha ever said Discard my teachings?Originally posted by casino_king:See what you just did? Buddha asked you himself to discard his teachings and you say never! You greater than the master?
Quote pls. -
Fantasies? This is not a fantasy - the Buddhists around the world often claim that.Originally posted by casino_king:Yes sure.... please go on and indulge in your fantasies. Just read my previous posts in this thread again and say those words again.
So unless you can provide me info that suggests otherwise. -
quote:Originally posted by An Eternal Now:
Please don't just cut and paste something. Plese understand for yourself and appreciate for yourself what the "Scientific Method" is. Then back up your claim, the article you cut and paste falls far short of the "Scientific Method."
The Scientific Method was already followed by Buddha 2500 years ago - even though only recently do humans implement in other aspects of science. [/b] -
I did not see that it has fallen short of scientific method. I have gone through the points mentioned in the wikipedia 'scientific method' website and quoted in the post, and found nothing that Buddhism has fallen short of scientific method. In short, Buddhism's findings is never based on dogmas and blind faith but 'scientific' (in the sense as mentioned in wikipedia) observation.Originally posted by casino_king:Please don't just cut and paste something. Plese understand for yourself and appreciate for yourself what the "Scientific Method" is. Then back up your claim, the article you cut and paste falls far short of the "Scientific Method."
Why dont you tell us why it has 'fallen short' of scientific method? -
In the wake of the remarkable development of modern Science, the monotheistic and polytheistic religions of the world are open to scientists' attack rather helplessly, but Buddhism stands out as unique exception to this. It is because the more advanced is Science, the more and the better is Buddhism understood. In the meantime, in parallel to the stupendous scientific achievements of this age, Buddhism spreads more and more to the world. All over the world many philosophers, scientists and others turn to Buddhism as a result of logical theories of modern world.
For example, Dr. Sir Arthur C. Clarke, Albert Einstein, Prof. Huxley is couple of people who prefer Buddhism because of its profound teachings. Today, the Law of Karma and Universal Law of Rebirth become laws that applied to everyone regardless of their faith, race, ethnicity or cultural background. This is an eloquent proof that Buddhist theories can be tested and corroborated by science. In reality, the more learned the scientist is, the easier and the better can he comprehend the difficult Buddhist terms and the profound theories of Buddhism. Thus he would come to realize that whatever phenomena, physical or psychical, as explained by Buddha far from being superstitious, are all based on Reason and reality only.
Thus buddhism is very appealing to the intellecture -
one choose to stay in jurong west
deny the existence of pasir ris
ppl, who are in the mist of journey(city hall or wat aljunied)
show him pictures of pasir ris
show him the direction and
show him ways to get tere.
but one deny all help offered and immed labelled pasir ris do not exist.
bcoz he sees only jurong west.
but he never know
he himslf ned to embark the journey in order to 'prove' the existence of the ris.
he fear to step out frm jwest so he deny all(enclosed mind, pride,jealousy,ego,etc)
he expect ppl to follow him stayin in jwest
but he never knew tat ppl ard him has move on..even at slow speed.
but its ok to chose to stay in jwest since its ur choice anyway..juz tat u will hav a 'hard time'.
friend
do u have hard life?
do u find hard to interact wif ur surroundin?
do u often hav spiritual crisis? hard to move on?
its pretty normal .
i bet u are not younger than mi
but u see so much little than mi
u may hav grow in life
but wisdom does not gain with time
pls pls... i urge u.. to find fault in my lines
prove mi wrong with ur line
if u have a better line
i will sincerely,willingly follow it.
if u cant
gradually follow mine
for i can guide u to better light.
tis shall b my last post in the topic
coz everytin r useless
if one choose to stay forever.(the intention to move is not tere)
but pls fall back to the thread if u have any crisis..
all my postin is my rubbish thoughts(common sense)
but if rubbish thoughts can c wat u dun
wats the point of havin tons knowledge?
no religion, no separation
its only viewin of things only.
so much i can give
but so little one can receive
juz bcos he choose not to.
one ned certainty in order to step out wifout fear
but life is abt uncertainty
then arent u havin a hard time in life?
but one nver know tat
uncertainty can be overcum wit certainty
juz go thru them to be certain
one wan to win in war
but
one duno he ned to know it all
to 'win' big in life
one ned to noe wats in life
thankyou -
For me, i think there is such a thing as rebirth but at times i'm also in between the idea of whether there is really such a thing as i have not experienced myself personally.
But i'm also open to the possibility of there idea. One can be judgemental but one also need to realise that there are many things that one do not know. The world's knowledge datebase is ever-changing cos new theories are constantly being discovered,old ideas overthrew and new thinkings propping out; shocking old mindset and even social norms.
There are mysteries science has yet to proven. Even if science has proven this is so and so, one can still choose not to believe in it right??
Some religion teachings has given some explaination to the mysteries but it has not been proven completely. Ironically, there are people who believe in it.
A Buddhist who practise dharma should not get overly-attached to the idea whether there is such a thing as rebirth and thus losing sight. The most important thing for a buddhist is to strive to cultivate wisdom now, simply being happy, extending compassionate to other beings; learning to live in the moment as such etc etc.
For some religion, praying gives the believers comfort and even to the extent of helping keeping them sane. Sometime, It does not matter whether there are such a thing know as a divine being, as long as it helps to keep them sane and get people through hard times. ( for some people )
It does not matter much whether this or there things really exist. Science has tried to prove time over time and this kind of things can take super- long time.
By the end of your lifetime, whether it is proven anot, does it really matter? You can't bring there truth over after u are dead! who know?... Maybe death is the end of everythings. The most important thing is learning how to live life NOW.
And i think, many forumers have repeated this many times in the forum...
Buddha has encourage all buddhist should not follow teachings blindly. Buddhist are encouraged to explore to see the validity of his teachings and not having blind devotion. Buddhism never imposed teachings onto dis-believer. -
just to let you know....Originally posted by casino_king:That's what you say... from your perspective you cannot really see... I am telling you... the reality now is that the Roman Catholic Church is more in tune with Buddha's teaching on discarding 2000 + year old teachings and understandings.
---> On the one hand you say yes Buddha said apply his teaching if relevant... the next minute you say Buddha's teaching can never be wrong... you are so blind. <----
Buddha is known as a perfect one as he is fully enlightened ( meaning that he has dispelled all igorance and his understanding of the truth is perfectly clear ). In buddhist sense, it seems logical that his teachings is perfect.
Don't you agreed every readers has different comprehension to what he or she reads and has different level of understanding/perspective to things.. like u or we do ? Buddhism teaching is perfect but it is the readers of the sutra whom do not grasp the essence of the teachings.
Analogy speaking, Different illness require the different diagnose and the correct dosage of medicine. ( look @ my last paragraph above ). Common sense speaking, we can apply his teachings according to the situation.
Buddhism is not dogmatic.
and you can choose what to believe and not to believecannot blame you.. people can always see others better than themselves... like when you write, the editor can spot mistakes that are so obvious but us hidden from you because you are the one who wrote it.
Im so glad that u know this. So does this aso apply to the one who wrote it? -
Originally posted by An Eternal Now:Did Buddha ever said Discard my teachings?
Quote pls.CLICK HERE:we need to have the wisdom to discern which teachings are still applicable to us today, which need to be adapted, and which need to be discarded completely. if necessary, we need to have the courage to discard the raft:
-
I said that they article you quote saying that Buddhism follows the scientific method does not show that Budhhism is in tune with the scientific method in many areas where fantastic claims are made in the name of Buddhism.Please read the article / example you provided for us and compare what was said to that in the wikipedia explanation of the scientific method.Originally posted by An Eternal Now:I did not see that it has fallen short of scientific method. I have gone through the points mentioned in the wikipedia 'scientific method' website and quoted in the post, and found nothing that Buddhism has fallen short of scientific method. In short, Buddhism's findings is never based on dogmas and blind faith but 'scientific' (in the sense as mentioned in wikipedia) observation.
Why dont you tell us why it has 'fallen short' of scientific method?
I am asking you why Buddhists still cling on to these fantastic claims? Why can't they discard these claims as understanding and knowledge of a bygone era? -
Originally posted by neutral_onliner:
NOT THE PARTS WHERE BUDDHISM MAKES BASELESS/FANTASTIC CLAIMS.
[b]In the wake of the remarkable development of modern Science, the monotheistic and polytheistic religions of the world are open to scientists' attack rather helplessly, but Buddhism stands out as unique exception to this. It is because the more advanced is Science, the more and the better is Buddhism understood. In the meantime, in parallel to the stupendous scientific achievements of this age, Buddhism spreads more and more to the world. All over the world many philosophers, scientists and others turn to Buddhism as a result of logical theories of modern world.
For example, Dr. Sir Arthur C. Clarke, Albert Einstein, Prof. Huxley is couple of people who prefer Buddhism because of its profound teachings. Today, the Law of Karma and Universal Law of Rebirth become laws that applied to everyone regardless of their faith, race, ethnicity or cultural background. This is an eloquent proof that Buddhist theories can be tested and corroborated by science. In reality, the more learned the scientist is, the easier and the better can he comprehend the difficult Buddhist terms and the profound theories of Buddhism. Thus he would come to realize that whatever phenomena, physical or psychical, as explained by Buddha far from being superstitious, are all based on Reason and reality only.
Thus buddhism is very appealing to the intellecture
[/b] -
The one who is told how to get to pasir ris;Originally posted by simplified:one choose to stay in jurong west
deny the existence of pasir ris
ppl, who are in the mist of journey(city hall or wat aljunied)
show him pictures of pasir ris
show him the direction and
show him ways to get tere.
but one deny all help offered and immed labelled pasir ris do not exist.
bcoz he sees only jurong west.
but he never know
he himslf ned to embark the journey in order to 'prove' the existence of the ris.
he fear to step out frm jwest so he deny all(enclosed mind, pride,jealousy,ego,etc)
he expect ppl to follow him stayin in jwest
but he never knew tat ppl ard him has move on..even at slow speed.
but its ok to chose to stay in jwest since its ur choice anyway..juz tat u will hav a 'hard time'.
friend
do u have hard life?
do u find hard to interact wif ur surroundin?
do u often hav spiritual crisis? hard to move on?
its pretty normal .
i bet u are not younger than mi
but u see so much little than mi
u may hav grow in life
but wisdom does not gain with time
pls pls... i urge u.. to find fault in my lines
prove mi wrong with ur line
if u have a better line
i will sincerely,willingly follow it.
if u cant
gradually follow mine
for i can guide u to better light.
tis shall b my last post in the topic
coz everytin r useless
if one choose to stay forever.(the intention to move is not tere)
but pls fall back to the thread if u have any crisis..
all my postin is my rubbish thoughts(common sense)
but if rubbish thoughts can c wat u dun
wats the point of havin tons knowledge?
no religion, no separation
its only viewin of things only.
so much i can give
but so little one can receive
juz bcos he choose not to.
one ned certainty in order to step out wifout fear
but life is abt uncertainty
then arent u havin a hard time in life?
but one nver know tat
uncertainty can be overcum wit certainty
juz go thru them to be certain
one wan to win in war
but
one duno he ned to know it all
to 'win' big in life
one ned to noe wats in life
thankyou
is happy and appreciative
Until he is also told that in pasir ris
are beings that will make the dead alive
that is just too fantastic
so he starts to ask:
Is that the way to pasir ris or the way to idiot ris? -
I think you are one of those who understands what the debate is all about. The rest please read this and understand not what he says but why he is saying it.Originally posted by Isis:For me, i think there is such a thing as rebirth but at times i'm also in between the idea of whether there is really such a thing as i have not experienced myself personally.
But i'm also open to the possibility of there idea. One can be judgemental but one also need to realise that there are many things that one do not know. The world's knowledge datebase is ever-changing cos new theories are constantly being discovered,old ideas overthrew and new thinkings propping out; shocking old mindset and even social norms.
There are mysteries science has yet to proven. Even if science has proven this is so and so, one can still choose not to believe in it right??
Some religion teachings has given some explaination to the mysteries but it has not been proven completely. Ironically, there are people who believe in it.
A Buddhist who practise dharma should not get overly-attached to the idea whether there is such a thing as rebirth and thus losing sight. The most important thing for a buddhist is to strive to cultivate wisdom now, simply being happy, extending compassionate to other beings; learning to live in the moment as such etc etc.
For some religion, praying gives the believers comfort and even to the extent of helping keeping them sane. Sometime, It does not matter whether there are such a thing know as a divine being, as long as it helps to keep them sane and get people through hard times. ( for some people )
It does not matter much whether this or there things really exist. Science has tried to prove time over time and this kind of things can take super- long time.
By the end of your lifetime, whether it is proven anot, does it really matter? You can't bring there truth over after u are dead! who know?... Maybe death is the end of everythings. The most important thing is learning how to live life NOW.
And i think, many forumers have repeated this many times in the forum...
Buddha has encourage all buddhist should not follow teachings blindly. Buddhist are encouraged to explore to see the validity of his teachings and not having blind devotion. Buddhism never imposed teachings onto dis-believer. -
You said: Buddha has encourage all buddhist should not follow teachings blindly.Originally posted by Isis:For me, i think there is such a thing as rebirth but at times i'm also in between the idea of whether there is really such a thing as i have not experienced myself personally.
But i'm also open to the possibility of there idea. One can be judgemental but one also need to realise that there are many things that one do not know. The world's knowledge datebase is ever-changing cos new theories are constantly being discovered,old ideas overthrew and new thinkings propping out; shocking old mindset and even social norms.
There are mysteries science has yet to proven. Even if science has proven this is so and so, one can still choose not to believe in it right??
Some religion teachings has given some explaination to the mysteries but it has not been proven completely. Ironically, there are people who believe in it.
A Buddhist who practise dharma should not get overly-attached to the idea whether there is such a thing as rebirth and thus losing sight. The most important thing for a buddhist is to strive to cultivate wisdom now, simply being happy, extending compassionate to other beings; learning to live in the moment as such etc etc.
For some religion, praying gives the believers comfort and even to the extent of helping keeping them sane. Sometime, It does not matter whether there are such a thing know as a divine being, as long as it helps to keep them sane and get people through hard times. ( for some people )
It does not matter much whether this or there things really exist. Science has tried to prove time over time and this kind of things can take super- long time.
By the end of your lifetime, whether it is proven anot, does it really matter? You can't bring there truth over after u are dead! who know?... Maybe death is the end of everythings. The most important thing is learning how to live life NOW.
And i think, many forumers have repeated this many times in the forum...
Buddha has encourage all buddhist should not follow teachings blindly. Buddhist are encouraged to explore to see the validity of his teachings and not having blind devotion. Buddhism never imposed teachings onto dis-believer.
You said:[b] i have not experienced myself personally.
[b]You said: But i'm also open to the possibility of there idea.
You see there is a problem here... there was no scientific method 2550 years ago. There was no way to test and experiment and find out the validity of "claims." There is the issue of telling people what they understood and believed 2550 years ago.
I think Buddha will faint if he sees a bunch of people who "have not experienced myself personally" and where there is no authoritative study as to the validity of the claims... having the benefit of education and learning about the scientific method.... is nevertheless, "open to the possibility of there idea" and call themselves his followers.
Where then does it stop? You can be open to all kind of nonsense... The Christians, the Muslims, the Hindus.... they are all "open to the possibility of " the ideas taught them -
which parts ?Originally posted by casino_king:NOT THE PARTS WHERE BUDDHISM MAKES BASELESS/FANTASTIC CLAIMS. -
Wow this thread is still going strong.. -
Originally posted by casino_king:I think you are one of those who understands what the debate is all about. The rest please read this and understand not what he says but why he is saying it.
gong so much (ok lah change word to "birdtalk" - nonsense). you cannot be a judge, because of people like you the criminal can be set free of guilty. -
yes.... let's say it might go up to 20 pages.Originally posted by DriftingGuy:Wow this thread is still going strong.. -
For example right here in ~ Buddhism: Wisdom Bliss ~ It's no wonder some Buddhists here have nothing to contribute to this thread other than to flame. I think other than superstitions their brains are incapable of reasoning.Originally posted by neutral_onliner:which parts ?