What I find intriguing is that polytheism with a pantheon of quarrelsome gods seems indistinguishable from atheism. — TheMadFool
It is not nearly so desolate and barren as atheism. — Wayfarer
We're to the goods as flies to wanton boys; they kill us for sport — Unknown
I don’t mean I believe in the Greek gods. What I mean is, that imaginative realm is far richer than the picture in which human life is simply the outcome of the random collocations of atoms — Wayfarer
You can see it like that if you want. — Wayfarer
The ‘mutually hostile gods’ can just as easily be seen as our warring passions. — Wayfarer
Part of the problem is where 'sex' fits into the picture and also the unspoken undercurrent of 'hell'. — Jack Cummins
I was commenting on praxis question about the saying ‘chop wood, draw water’. As a bald statement, it means nothing much. Many of those kinds of aphorisms were taken by the popular Zen literature of the 60’s and 70’s and entered popular discourse. But outside the cultural context in which they were meaningful, they can easily be nonsensical.
In the context of Zen pedagogy, it has a specific meaning about the appropriate attitude to take towards Zen practice, i.e. not ‘idolising’ the idea of enlightenment but treating everyday activities as an expression of bodhi-mind. So the ‘context’ is not only the cultural context which makes such phrases meaningful, but also the context of the monastic life. — Wayfarer
I've just been reading some Maslow and he presents a really nice theory of the need for the idea of God. Maslow distinguishes between D-motivations and B-motivations, that is, motivations that are powered by deficiencies (hunger, insecurity) and those that are higher and constructive, "being-motivations," growth, creativity, love. B-motivations in turn tie in with his theory of peak experiences, in which cognition of reality is achieved in its most fundamental sense. Everything is perceived "idiographically" as the most perfect exemplar of its own class. Maslow suggests that we have a fundamental desire to be perceived in this way, in our own inherent perfection. And that God is a projection of this need, the being which is able to perceive us as we most truly and perfectly are. — Pantagruel
I love agreement and I am glad you are accepting of Eastern philosophy. I have read, at one time Catholicism and Buddhism were so close they almost blended. I absolutely think knowing Eastern philosophy improves our understanding of Jesus. Jesus being a mythical character such as other mythical characters that carry Greek thought (logos). Bahia' is a blend of all religions. A high point in Catholicism is when it turned to Aristotle and other Greek philosophers to justify the power and authority of the Church, but this did not pull Europe away from the superstition that came talk of Satan and demons. Superstitious notions that got worse with translating the Bible into languages common to Europeans and Protestantism.Jack Cummins — Jack Cummins
Supposedly, chopping wood and carrying water is entirely exempt of suffering. Is that your experience??? — praxis
Supposedly, chopping wood and carrying water is entirely exempt of suffering. Is that your experience???
— praxis
I am not a Zen teacher so I have no "credentials" to be explaining this kind of thing — synthesis
Zen is simply every day life. Nothing more, nothing special. It is viewing life with clarity which gives rise to wisdom. That's all. Chopping wood, carry water is everyday life, nothing more. — synthesis
In Zen, there is "understanding," and there is "UNDERSTANDING." It is often advised to allow those with the later "certified" understanding to do the teaching. IOW, a Zen master is one who has had the teaching passed to them by another master. I have not been through this process. It doesn't mean I can not share my experience, only that if you are really interested in Zen, you should seek a teacher.Supposedly, chopping wood and carrying water is entirely exempt of suffering. Is that your experience???
— praxis
I am not a Zen teacher so I have no "credentials" to be explaining this kind of thing
— synthesis
I hope you’re not suggesting that only a teacher (religious authority) can speak for your own experience. — praxis
Perhaps, but first it is about confronting your stuff, working through it, and then ...Zen is simply every day life. Nothing more, nothing special. It is viewing life with clarity which gives rise to wisdom. That's all. Chopping wood, carry water is everyday life, nothing more.
— synthesis
A nice simple balanced life. :love: — praxis
I think the mystery of existence necessarily points to something beyond our everyday experience. That is, recognizing the existence of God is the rational inference from our being here, in my opinion. — Photios
Come to think of it, Buddha's weltanschauung wouldn't have been able to accommodate a single divine being as the be-all and end-all of goodness because, it seems quite obvious on hindsight, Buddhism's central tenet is that life is suffering; how then can there exist an all-good god and even if such a god exists, he must surely be powerless to come to our aid or both [ref:Epicurean dilemma]. — TheMadFool
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