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This topic has moved here: Subject: Siddhartha
  • Subject: Siddhartha
Subject: Siddhartha
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Have any of you read it? If so, what did you think of it?

  • 06.07.2004 3:26 PM PDT
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Buddhism, and the quest for self-enlightenment just doesn't interest me. Self-improvement is -blam!-ion.

  • 06.07.2004 3:30 PM PDT
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i think ive read it

  • 06.07.2004 3:30 PM PDT
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Posted by: ajenteks
Buddhism, and the quest for self-enlightenment just doesn't interest me. Self-improvement is -blam!-.


Why? If we cannot improve ourselves how can we hope to improve others?

  • 06.07.2004 3:36 PM PDT
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You dont have to improve yourself to improve others, I wallow in self-pity all day, but i still make others feel good about themselves

  • 06.07.2004 3:39 PM PDT
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Posted by: ObbiQuiet
Posted by: ajenteks
Buddhism, and the quest for self-enlightenment just doesn't interest me. Self-improvement is -blam!-.


Why? If we cannot improve ourselves how can we hope to improve others?


Sure, we need to improve ourselves to a point. It's important for a member of society to not be a burden, and to be able to contribute something to society.

But there's a point where self-improvement becomes moot, and the knowledge or abilities a person has is not relevant to those around them. Why build a cathedral, when a chapel will suffice?

  • 06.07.2004 3:42 PM PDT
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Im with knives on that, I dont like making people feel bad, even though i have the power too and they are complete dicks, i will start but once I have power them I stop and i dont have trouble from anyone cuz they know wut i could do them, but im also with obbi, I think the point in life is to improve ourselves, if everyone had morals and was trying to improve themselves, there wouldnt be any killing or destruction.

  • 06.07.2004 3:42 PM PDT
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You're correct.

  • 06.07.2004 3:43 PM PDT
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wow for once we are agreeing obbi.

  • 06.07.2004 3:45 PM PDT
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Buddhism is interesting to me, but I don't know where to start. Currently, I'm studying Shintoism.

  • 06.07.2004 3:45 PM PDT
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Sure, we need to improve ourselves to a point. It's important for a member of society to not be a burden, and to be able to contribute something to society.

But there's a point where self-improvement becomes moot, and the knowledge or abilities a person has is not relevant to those around them. Why build a cathedral, when a chapel will suffice?


The analogy fails since the goal in mind here is happiness. There can never be enough.

[Edited on 6/7/2004 3:46:02 PM]

  • 06.07.2004 3:45 PM PDT
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Enlightenment? Meh. I need no enlightenment. My "enlightenments" are getting money, watching Sci-fi shows, and playing video games. Sitting legs crossed doing nothing won't help anything.

  • 06.07.2004 3:46 PM PDT
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Posted by: Canadian_MC
wow for once we are agreeing obbi.



I wasn't agreeing with you, sob.

  • 06.07.2004 3:46 PM PDT
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Posted by: Canadian_MC
Im with knives on that, I dont like making people feel bad, even though i have the power too and they are complete dicks, i will start but once I have power them I stop and i dont have trouble from anyone cuz they know wut i could do them, but im also with obbi, I think the point in life is to improve ourselves, if everyone had morals and was trying to improve themselves, there wouldnt be any killing or destruction.


I can't believe you thought I agreed with that jumble of incoherent nonsense.

  • 06.07.2004 3:48 PM PDT
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Posted by: ObbiQuiet

The analogy fails since the goal in mind here is happiness. There can never be enough.


Masterbation(yeah, mis-spelt) makes me happy, but if I can have sex and I can help somebody else be happy, the masterbation is a selfish waste.

  • 06.07.2004 3:50 PM PDT
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Posted by: ObbiQuiet
Posted by: Canadian_MC
Im with knives on that, I dont like making people feel bad, even though i have the power too and they are complete dicks, i will start but once I have power them I stop and i dont have trouble from anyone cuz they know wut i could do them, but im also with obbi, I think the point in life is to improve ourselves, if everyone had morals and was trying to improve themselves, there wouldnt be any killing or destruction.


I can't believe you thought I agreed with that jumble of incoherent nonsense.
OK sorry for insulting you your highness.

  • 06.07.2004 3:53 PM PDT
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Posted by: ajenteks
Posted by: ObbiQuiet

The analogy fails since the goal in mind here is happiness. There can never be enough.


Masterbation(yeah, mis-spelt) makes me happy, but if I can have sex and I can help somebody else be happy, the masterbation is a selfish waste.


-blam!-ion?

I get the feeling you don't have the smallest semblance of a clue about Buddhism.

  • 06.07.2004 3:53 PM PDT
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Posted by: ObbiQuiet
Posted by: ajenteks
Posted by: ObbiQuiet

The analogy fails since the goal in mind here is happiness. There can never be enough.


Masterbation(yeah, mis-spelt) makes me happy, but if I can have sex and I can help somebody else be happy, the masterbation is a selfish waste.


-blam!-?

I get the feeling you don't have the smallest semblance of a clue about Buddhism.


I merely tried, and failed it seems, to illustrate how reaching the goal of happiness through self-enlightenment isn’t the most productive way to go about it. It's easy to make yourself happy, but why not make other people happy at the same time? This is how Tyler Durden's quote makes sense to me.

How did Buddha’s quest for, and attainment of, enlightenment help the human race? How do monks in a secluded monastery following his teachings make the world a better place?

This is why Buddhism doesn’t appeal to me, because as a philosophy, yes, it can make the world better, but it is taken too far to the point where it’s selfish, and only the individual practitioner is benefiting - self enlightenment. Because of this, Christianity is far more appealing to study.

  • 06.07.2004 4:10 PM PDT
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No we dont actually, why? Because we have lives. I read alot, but not about Buddhism, and by the way this is against the rules, no religious discussions. Read the rules.

  • 06.07.2004 4:11 PM PDT
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I totally agree with ajenteks.

  • 06.07.2004 4:11 PM PDT
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Posted by: Canadian_MC
No we dont actually, why? Because we have lives. I read alot, but not about Buddhism, and by the way this is against the rules, no religious discussions. Read the rules.


This is not religious, it is philosophical. It's not about beliefs, but practices. If it bothers you, I recommend finding another topic to read.

  • 06.07.2004 4:15 PM PDT
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Posted by: ajenteks
Posted by: Canadian_MC
No we dont actually, why? Because we have lives. I read alot, but not about Buddhism, and by the way this is against the rules, no religious discussions. Read the rules.


This is not religious, it is philosophical. It's not about beliefs, but practices. If it bothers you, I recommend finding another topic to read.
doesnt bother me at all, I was just saying...

  • 06.07.2004 4:24 PM PDT
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I merely tried, and failed it seems, to illustrate how reaching the goal of happiness through self-enlightenment isn’t the most productive way to go about it. It's easy to make yourself happy

No it isn't. :P

, but why not make other people happy at the same time? This is how Tyler Durden's quote makes sense to me.

How did Buddha’s quest for, and attainment of, enlightenment help the human race? How do monks in a secluded monastery following his teachings make the world a better place?


It's making it a better place because these monks are reaching enlightenment without harming anyone else. Tyler Durden's quote is foolish because he forgets that, even in the monastery, the monks are a part of this world.


This is why Buddhism doesn’t appeal to me, because as a philosophy, yes, it can make the world better, but it is taken too far to the point where it’s selfish, and only the individual practitioner is benefiting - self enlightenment. Because of this, Christianity is far more appealing to study.

Are you familiar with Bodhisattvas? They are supposed to be ones who have reached enlightenment but who do not go to nirvana and who choose to stay to teach others how to reach it as well. Many monks would choose to do this.

Also, remember, the teaching of the Buddha is that only YOU can gain and benefit from true happiness. It is the other's job to reach it as well, but many Buddhists would stay after it is reached (be re-born) to help others to reach it.

If you have not yet obtained it, how can you possibly help others effectively to reach it?

[Edited on 6/7/2004 4:37:35 PM]

  • 06.07.2004 4:37 PM PDT
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Obbi I just want to know why whenever someone tries to be nice to you, you turn back and insult them.

  • 06.07.2004 4:40 PM PDT
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Posted by: Canadian_MC
Obbi I just want to know why whenever someone tries to be nice to you, you turn back and insult them.


Really? I hadn't noticed.

  • 06.07.2004 4:44 PM PDT