Quote:
Originally posted by Yorick:
quote:
Originally posted by Chewbacca:
My buddah laughs at the dark view you cast on Buddism, Yorrick.
[img]graemlins/hehe.gif[/img]
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Siddartha is dead according to Theravada Buddhism. He's not helping anybody.
According to Mahayana, he never achieved Nirvana to help others.
That means he's helping people to achieve what he himself has not achieved. [img]smile.gif[/img] 
So which is it?
Where do you stand?
Bodhisattvaless or Bodhisattva assisted?[/QUOTE]tired intrepretations and factionalsim mean little to healthy practice of buddism. What matters is the unshakeable integrity of spirit and compassion that lays in the heart of Buddism. The practice of meditation in order to achieve a healthy state of mind and being is an admirsble goal. Like most religions, buddism contains pathways of transformation. A perspective on the idea that buddist practice seeks to destroy or alter oneself can be viewed this way.
Transforming ones mind of destructive thought patterns via meditation or prayer is a common spiritual practice. The art of forgivness be non-denominational. The transformation of the ego is aligned with this purpose. The eventual goal of a buddist is not self-annihalation, but self actualization, true individuality, and a sense of personal spiritual evolution.
An example:
One sits down and quiet your thoughts, focus on breathing, on being. Be aware of your consious and subconiuos thoughts. Close your eyes, but be careful not to get lost in a tangent of thought. Let go of the consious and subconsious thoughts, focus your mind on your body's breathing, slowly inhale thorugh your nose, hold a full breath and slowly exhale thorugh your mouth. Continue as you please...
Clear calm stillness and presence of mind is the outcome. Why is that such a destructive aim?
[ 05-25-2002, 12:04 AM: Message edited by: Chewbacca ]