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Moloth
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 Posted: Fri May 04, 2007 1:49 pm Post subject: |
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| Sal1981 wrote: |  |
LOL and SAVED. 
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Last edited by Moloth on Tue Feb 30, 2026 13:61 am; edited 426 times in total |
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CET
The Spiritual Atheist
Joined: 02 Apr 2003
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Location: SoCal, USA
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| Posted: Fri May 04, 2007 2:45 pm Post subject: |
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| tantric wrote: | the next buddha will have skin the color of dirt, six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot. oh, yeah, and a freakin' righteous 'fro. and sunglasses - 'cause you gotta wear your sunglasses, so you can feel cool.
after he encounters nirvana, he will be tested. the MAN, lord of addiction and greed, will rise up before him and offer him all the moneys of the world. the buddha will look up and say "they are but dirt and ashes to my eyes, " and the money will burn and the gold will rust into dirt.
then the MAN will threat with all the armies of the oppressors. guns will be aimed, missles will be armed, bombs will lock on target. the MAN will push his button and the weapons of hell will fly. then the buddha will look upon them and smile, and they will turn to flower petals and tabs of LSD and rain down upon the peoples.
at last, the MAN, knowing he has lost, will challenge "you are alone, who will know your accomplishment?" and the buddha will look towards the camera and smile, "the world is my witness".
i keep telling people this, and they just laugh - "wow, what an imagination", as if i'm kidding.
a guide to understanding buddhists in the 21st:
1)traditional asian buddhists
2)nihilistic buddhists aka Kerouac (endangered species)
3)hippy-dippy new age buddhists - euroamerican new agers, know *nothing* about buddhism
4)scientific buddhists - euroamerican naturalist atheists just the facts buddhists, know about the buddha, not much about buddhism
5)postmodern buddhists - all origins, know LOTS about buddhism, mostly proscience |
Riiiiiiight.
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CET 
The Spiritual Atheist
"Much of the suffering in the world comes from the delusion that we are separate from one another." - Gautama Buddha
"Those who dance are considered insane by those who can't hear the music." - George Carlin |
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tantric
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| Posted: Fri May 04, 2007 3:13 pm Post subject: |
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get a sense of humor! buddhists make fun of their religion - show me another religion that does this...
seriously - on the issue of karma, i consider karma an internal psychological phenomenon that has nothing to do with reincarnation, which i don't really accept. if i help people, i become a better person and have more joy in my life. if i lie, i lose the ability to trust other people, and waste time doubting those i should trust. etc. this is karma, it's not about some external judgment and metaphysical consequences.
about the utility of the existence of buddhism if buddhism accepts science. to paraphrase: "the purpose of religion is the end of suffering, and in this, buddhism is the best religion. whatever accomplishes this goal, that we call buddhism".
buddhistic atheism is more an act of will: i don't care whether or not god(s) exists, i don't worship them because i alone am responsible for my actions and their consequences. if God were to appear in a bolt of light and carve random versus from the abrahamic canon on a mountain side, would would your naturalist atheist then worship him? buddhists would consider that typical behavior for a god (nutjob) and just go on with life. |
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Uncertainty
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Joined: 23 Oct 2005
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| Posted: Fri May 04, 2007 3:44 pm Post subject: |
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| tantric wrote: | | is that about apple, inc or the garden of eden, and how does it related to being stoned and this girl? is she stoned and thinking about the fruit of knowledge? or does it somehow imply that the fruit of knowledge is pot, and that serpent is a drug pusher? dippy-chick, imho, does NOT look like eve. i need to get back to work. |
| tantric wrote: | | get a sense of humor! |
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transientangent
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| Posted: Fri May 04, 2007 3:49 pm Post subject: |
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I've only seen passing reference to Taoism, and I know this is a buddhism thread, but I find Taoism to be a much better spiritual fit with naturalism. I'm in the process of reading more myself, but I like the analogy drawn in the parable/painting of the vinegar tasters.
Three men, Confucius, Buddha, and Lao Tzu have all dipped their fingers in the pot of vinegar for a taste. The buddhist view that all life is suffering, is reflected in the bitter face of the buddha. The confucian view that life is out of order and needs to be fixed is reflected in Confucius's face. Lao Tzu however, sees life as fundamentally right, and is smiling.
CET, what do you think Zen brings to the table that Taoism lacks?
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our existence - a photograph
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Specus_Meretricis
Peddler of Bombast
Joined: 08 Mar 2007
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Local time: 4:16 AM
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| Posted: Fri May 04, 2007 5:25 pm Post subject: |
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| Uncertainty wrote: | | tantric wrote: | | is that about apple, inc or the garden of eden, and how does it related to being stoned and this girl? is she stoned and thinking about the fruit of knowledge? or does it somehow imply that the fruit of knowledge is pot, and that serpent is a drug pusher? dippy-chick, imho, does NOT look like eve. i need to get back to work. |
| tantric wrote: | | get a sense of humor! |
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HAHA! Serious business!!! |
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CET
The Spiritual Atheist
Joined: 02 Apr 2003
Posts: 12816
Local time: 12:16 AM
Location: SoCal, USA
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| Posted: Fri May 04, 2007 5:27 pm Post subject: |
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| tantric wrote: | | get a sense of humor! buddhists make fun of their religion - show me another religion that does this... |
Sorry for the strange reaction, but it was kind of weird.
| tantric wrote: | | seriously - on the issue of karma, i consider karma an internal psychological phenomenon that has nothing to do with reincarnation, which i don't really accept. if i help people, i become a better person and have more joy in my life. if i lie, i lose the ability to trust other people, and waste time doubting those i should trust. etc. this is karma, it's not about some external judgment and metaphysical consequences. |
Agreed. I'm both an atheist, and a Soto-Zen Buddhist. The Gautama Buddha on his death bed reminded us that there is no supernatural world and that we should take personal responsibility for ourselves.
| tantric wrote: | about the utility of the existence of buddhism if buddhism accepts science. to paraphrase: "the purpose of religion is the end of suffering, and in this, buddhism is the best religion. whatever accomplishes this goal, that we call buddhism".
buddhistic atheism is more an act of will: i don't care whether or not god(s) exists, i don't worship them because i alone am responsible for my actions and their consequences. if God were to appear in a bolt of light and carve random versus from the abrahamic canon on a mountain side, would would your naturalist atheist then worship him? buddhists would consider that typical behavior for a god (nutjob) and just go on with life. |
*nods*
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CET
The Spiritual Atheist
"Much of the suffering in the world comes from the delusion that we are separate from one another." - Gautama Buddha
"Those who dance are considered insane by those who can't hear the music." - George Carlin |
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Uncertainty
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Joined: 23 Oct 2005
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| Posted: Fri May 04, 2007 5:43 pm Post subject: |
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| Specus_Meretricis wrote: | | Uncertainty wrote: | | tantric wrote: | | is that about apple, inc or the garden of eden, and how does it related to being stoned and this girl? is she stoned and thinking about the fruit of knowledge? or does it somehow imply that the fruit of knowledge is pot, and that serpent is a drug pusher? dippy-chick, imho, does NOT look like eve. i need to get back to work. |
| tantric wrote: | | get a sense of humor! |
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HAHA! Serious business!!! |
Stoned girls are SERIOUS BUSINESS!!! |
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CET
The Spiritual Atheist
Joined: 02 Apr 2003
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Location: SoCal, USA
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| Posted: Fri May 04, 2007 6:02 pm Post subject: |
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| transientangent wrote: | I've only seen passing reference to Taoism, and I know this is a buddhism thread, but I find Taoism to be a much better spiritual fit with naturalism. I'm in the process of reading more myself, but I like the analogy drawn in the parable/painting of the vinegar tasters.
Three men, Confucius, Buddha, and Lao Tzu have all dipped their fingers in the pot of vinegar for a taste. The buddhist view that all life is suffering, is reflected in the bitter face of the buddha. The confucian view that life is out of order and needs to be fixed is reflected in Confucius's face. Lao Tzu however, sees life as fundamentally right, and is smiling. |
I don't necessarily agree with that assessment. I've read it before, and it has never sat well with me. I don't think Buddha's face or reasoning would have been different from Lao Tzu's. After all, Gautama Buddha is famous for saying, "Everything is as it should be."
Further, the Buddhist view is not that all life is suffering. It is that there is suffering in the world, and the way to end suffering is to be free from our passions (anger, fear, etc) and desires (unquenchable thirst).
| transientangent wrote: | | CET, what do you think Zen brings to the table that Taoism lacks? |
I like all 3 philosophies, which is why I am a Soto-Zen Buddhist. In the 7th century C.E., Buddhism melded with Taoism and Confuciusianism, to create Zen. The entire point of Zen is to acknowledge change. You cannot fight change, or else you create more suffering. You can only go with it, much like the Lao Tzu's waterfall parable.
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CET
The Spiritual Atheist
"Much of the suffering in the world comes from the delusion that we are separate from one another." - Gautama Buddha
"Those who dance are considered insane by those who can't hear the music." - George Carlin |
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Tormentor
Royal Citizen
Joined: 17 May 2007
Posts: 469
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| Posted: Thu May 17, 2007 12:23 pm Post subject: Re: Buddhism |
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| Daisuke64 wrote: | | So what do you atheists out there think of Buddhism? |
It's an interesting philosophy. I wouldn't dismiss it as some religion until you've looked in to meditation and the teachings of buddhism first. Either way, it's okay.
I'd also recommend looking in to the atheist perspective of hinduism as well. |
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anamoly
Recess Monitor
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Posts: 682
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| Posted: Thu May 17, 2007 12:43 pm Post subject: |
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I enjoy some Alan Watts essays and I read a little about zen. What I interpret is that in order to free one's self from suffering, they have to free themselves from the idea of 'self'. Once one realizes that they are not the only thing in this universe that exists and can affect the universe (or not to think that the universe revolve around one or it affects only one), one is free from suffering. I try to think like that and it can be damn near enlightening. I enjoy life more because I don't see the universe as some biased thing. I see it as a neutral and anything I do or happens to me is not directed at me or is directed at anyone else. It just is. That's why I cannot understand the whole God concept becuase that would imply a bias. But if you look at the universe and see the effect things have on each other...the only that has any real bias (intent to do harm or good) is humans. The universe is neutral to the suffering or joys of man.
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CET
The Spiritual Atheist
Joined: 02 Apr 2003
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| Posted: Thu May 17, 2007 1:10 pm Post subject: |
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That is definitely part of how to be free of suffering. Check my signature.
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Namaste,
CET
The Spiritual Atheist
"Much of the suffering in the world comes from the delusion that we are separate from one another." - Gautama Buddha
"Those who dance are considered insane by those who can't hear the music." - George Carlin |
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anamoly
Recess Monitor
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| Posted: Fri May 18, 2007 3:22 am Post subject: |
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| CET wrote: | | That is definitely part of how to be free of suffering. Check my signature. |
Aye, it is a nifty quote. Do you have any suggestions for a good read? I have a ton of books to read but I do like to pile more 
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Just because I don't put my life story in my signature, doesn't make me uninteresting....I'd like to think I'm mysterious. |
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CET
The Spiritual Atheist
Joined: 02 Apr 2003
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Local time: 12:16 AM
Location: SoCal, USA
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| Posted: Fri May 18, 2007 9:27 am Post subject: |
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| anamoly wrote: | | CET wrote: | | That is definitely part of how to be free of suffering. Check my signature. |
Aye, it is a nifty quote. Do you have any suggestions for a good read? I have a ton of books to read but I do like to pile more |
It depends on what you want to know. I'm still a baby in this area. My Sensei says that the Heart Sutra is all you need. It isn't long, but it's EXTREMELY dense, and it takes several reads to even begin to understand. Once you begin to understand it, you'll spend the next several years continuing to understand it on other levels.
For something a bit easier to digest in the here and now (yes, I do like my instant gratification  ), you might consider Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind by Shunryu Suzuki. It's still something you have to read slowly, and put down after a paragraph or two, but it is easier to understand then most sutras.
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Namaste,
CET
The Spiritual Atheist
"Much of the suffering in the world comes from the delusion that we are separate from one another." - Gautama Buddha
"Those who dance are considered insane by those who can't hear the music." - George Carlin |
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SvZurich
Loki's Little Valkyrie
Joined: 06 Oct 2003
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| Posted: Sat May 26, 2007 6:54 pm Post subject: |
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Welcome Tormentor and Anomoly!
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