Francis king
Well-Known Member
I didn't want to derail the "anger/buddhism" thread or the "what do u believe" thread, so thought I'd read both and then come here and... furnish you with some insight... you might not want it, but such is life... I am compelled by my ego to perform for u, and so shall do it here...
For me, I have absolutely no problem whatsoever with being both a) a person who understands the philosophy of buddhism and upholds it is the finest doctrine ever, as well as b) a person who has an active and dazzling relationship with something I call God(s)...
this does not feel strange to me, although plenty of ppl would like me to think it is... both of these beliefs are not mutually exclusive unless the individual wants them to be...
But then what I believe about both topics, God and buddhism, are not particularly conventional...
For me, buddhism is a fabulous philosophy which all beings can benefit from, a philosophy that aims to end suffering, both on an individual, personal "for the self" level, and then hopefully, once a person understands, they try to extend this practise, expand this vision to encompass others who also might benefit from it...
I do not think Buddha is a God, floating about on a cloud with his infinate wisdom in gay array... I do not think buddhism is a religion... I do not think it should be practised and followed in the way in which it often as, as I feel personally that it then loses it's flavour...
Ultimately, you yourself are the dharma, a word which means many things- law, righteousness, the doctrine...
An enlightened being is answerable to nobody but himself, a messiah or a visionary or a prophet does not speak about the prayers and dreams of others- he forges his own way, regardless of where that takes him- to the cross, for Jesus, for Buddha, away from God and towards the people...
...As for God... God is what everybody looks for, and never finds... God goes beyond the boundaries of culture and creed... and that is partly the reason why people never find him/her/it/them...
... of course, this seems bizzare... and yet...
I have always wanted to take up the robes, be my own archetypal buddha, and save the world... I have written the book, collected my favourite texts, designed the centre we will all one day visit, and I have even created a neat logo we will use on all our advertising... brand buddha, coming to a store near u, soon, but...
... in truth, what use is creating a pleasant enviroment for a load of lentil eating un-grateful deadheads if the only person I save is my own little self? I would like to think I could generate revenue to manage successful buddhist micro- and small scale businesses, create therapeutic communities for people with mental health problems, open a drug rehab centre, a nursing home, raise money to send poor kids on scholarships to become doctors and scientists... do my bit to save the world, where I can, but would I?
Would I instead sup my small beer, basking in the adoration of the lentil eaters, and sneak off to buy Armani loafers, then fly off to spend the summer in India, or Thailand, for a supposed retreat?
...and so, instead of there, in the robe, chanting sutras with the others, staring at the wall occasionally, collecting my library of texts, and getting further away from what I'm after with each passing day, I am instead somewhere else, in my metaphorical boiler suit, with my spanner in my hand, learning how to tinker with engines... I can't pick up the texts now, as I would sully them, with the oil and the grease from my hands... But that doesn't mean I don't remember what I read before...
Hand on heart? Buddhism is a vehicle... Buddha says this himself... If what I believe is the dharma worth mentioning has the capacity to fix this messed up crowd of people I see before me, suffering, then, if I have that realisation, if I have the skill, and I have the means, then I would be a miserable, selfish person not to try...
... what is a vehicle? Transportation... why do people need transportation? To take them to places they couldn't reach easily on foot...
...I want the whole world to travel in my vehicle...not just people who eat lentils, or the cashmere clad classes...
...unfortunately, I cannot carry many people upon the handlebars of my bicycle, and am saving up for a spaceship...
... I was thinking of hijacking someone elses' ride- taking a shortcut, so to speak, but the vehicles were usually, lacking somewhat...
and I do have standards...
...Instead then, I'm riding around the neighbourhood on my bike, occasionally tinkering with engines... maybe one day a devotee will give me a gold rolls royce, but until then... the bike does me fine...
after all, I don't want to carry passengers... I simply want to tinker with engines...
For me, I have absolutely no problem whatsoever with being both a) a person who understands the philosophy of buddhism and upholds it is the finest doctrine ever, as well as b) a person who has an active and dazzling relationship with something I call God(s)...
this does not feel strange to me, although plenty of ppl would like me to think it is... both of these beliefs are not mutually exclusive unless the individual wants them to be...
But then what I believe about both topics, God and buddhism, are not particularly conventional...
For me, buddhism is a fabulous philosophy which all beings can benefit from, a philosophy that aims to end suffering, both on an individual, personal "for the self" level, and then hopefully, once a person understands, they try to extend this practise, expand this vision to encompass others who also might benefit from it...
I do not think Buddha is a God, floating about on a cloud with his infinate wisdom in gay array... I do not think buddhism is a religion... I do not think it should be practised and followed in the way in which it often as, as I feel personally that it then loses it's flavour...
Ultimately, you yourself are the dharma, a word which means many things- law, righteousness, the doctrine...
An enlightened being is answerable to nobody but himself, a messiah or a visionary or a prophet does not speak about the prayers and dreams of others- he forges his own way, regardless of where that takes him- to the cross, for Jesus, for Buddha, away from God and towards the people...
...As for God... God is what everybody looks for, and never finds... God goes beyond the boundaries of culture and creed... and that is partly the reason why people never find him/her/it/them...
... of course, this seems bizzare... and yet...
I have always wanted to take up the robes, be my own archetypal buddha, and save the world... I have written the book, collected my favourite texts, designed the centre we will all one day visit, and I have even created a neat logo we will use on all our advertising... brand buddha, coming to a store near u, soon, but...
... in truth, what use is creating a pleasant enviroment for a load of lentil eating un-grateful deadheads if the only person I save is my own little self? I would like to think I could generate revenue to manage successful buddhist micro- and small scale businesses, create therapeutic communities for people with mental health problems, open a drug rehab centre, a nursing home, raise money to send poor kids on scholarships to become doctors and scientists... do my bit to save the world, where I can, but would I?
Would I instead sup my small beer, basking in the adoration of the lentil eaters, and sneak off to buy Armani loafers, then fly off to spend the summer in India, or Thailand, for a supposed retreat?
...and so, instead of there, in the robe, chanting sutras with the others, staring at the wall occasionally, collecting my library of texts, and getting further away from what I'm after with each passing day, I am instead somewhere else, in my metaphorical boiler suit, with my spanner in my hand, learning how to tinker with engines... I can't pick up the texts now, as I would sully them, with the oil and the grease from my hands... But that doesn't mean I don't remember what I read before...
Hand on heart? Buddhism is a vehicle... Buddha says this himself... If what I believe is the dharma worth mentioning has the capacity to fix this messed up crowd of people I see before me, suffering, then, if I have that realisation, if I have the skill, and I have the means, then I would be a miserable, selfish person not to try...
... what is a vehicle? Transportation... why do people need transportation? To take them to places they couldn't reach easily on foot...
...I want the whole world to travel in my vehicle...not just people who eat lentils, or the cashmere clad classes...
...unfortunately, I cannot carry many people upon the handlebars of my bicycle, and am saving up for a spaceship...
... I was thinking of hijacking someone elses' ride- taking a shortcut, so to speak, but the vehicles were usually, lacking somewhat...
and I do have standards...
...Instead then, I'm riding around the neighbourhood on my bike, occasionally tinkering with engines... maybe one day a devotee will give me a gold rolls royce, but until then... the bike does me fine...
after all, I don't want to carry passengers... I simply want to tinker with engines...
} imo. **shrugs**