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I'm not sure about that guy and his quote, but as to "what does it all boil down to", I'd say its the goal of trying to find common ground on Earth with others as much as possible. We're all humans and neighbors, after all. There's much that we will always have in common.
We've each always been individual and unique, with our own ideas and freedoms of choice. In previous times, it wasn't a problem, and most would just "live and let live". But it's all turned around now. People want to find every reason to argue and disagree. It's highly perverse, and comes from all directions, all groups. And with that, personal review and personal accountability is also lacking.
No religion is needed to find common ground, and seek to understand each other. That's the starting point. Then, philosophy, spirituality, and possibly religion can be added, as long as not conflicting with the primary goal. High diversity and high unity is possible, regardless of what the naysayers strive for.
That is indeed a political statement. Injustice caused with labels in the past can be rectified only by the use of the same labels. I do not wish for this thread to be closed so I will refrain from commenting further.
Good.
However, there's nothing inherently wrong with labels. It's merely a way man's mind classifies things.
It sounded like you were presenting a binary choice, as in 100% adherence to all Ten Commandments at all times or you're not much of a Christian. That's the perfect and the good would be progress through intention.
It sounded like you were presenting a binary choice, as in 100% adherence to all Ten Commandments at all times or you're not much of a Christian. That's the perfect and the good would be progress through intention.
Okay, now I understand what you were saying. But I'm not sure I agree, because, we are talking about COMMANDMENTS from your got, whom you claim to be totally committed to.
[just for the record, that's the 'royal your', not you specifically]
It's a little different in Buddhism. We primarily have 5 Precepts, but they are not considered to be commandments. They are suggestions if you want to reduce or eliminate your suffering.
Okay, now I understand what you were saying. But I'm not sure I agree, because, we are talking about COMMANDMENTS from your got, whom you claim to be totally committed to.
[just for the record, that's the 'royal your', not you specifically]
It's a little different in Buddhism. We primarily have 5 Precepts, but they are not considered to be commandments. They are suggestions if you want to reduce or eliminate your suffering.
Back in my early days of Buddhist meditation I practiced for purely selfish reasons, and that was to reduce stress and reactivity. Purely secular and self-centered and it worked wonders. After some time I became aware of what I suppose could be called a "Butterfly Effect" or perhaps "Ripples in the Pond Effect", and that is what was proving beneficial for me was also beneficial for those around me. That did give me even more motivation and broadened my intent. Kind of like the expanding outward circle practiced in Loving-Kindness meditation, only passive and not active. That is it wasn't purposefully cultivating qualities of love, kindness and compassion but these qualities eventually did begin to more often manifest. I take the same view with suffering and that it's not just my alleviation of suffering that's at issue.
Back in my early days of Buddhist meditation I practiced for purely selfish reasons, and that was to reduce stress and reactivity. Purely secular and self-centered and it worked wonders. After some time I became aware of what I suppose could be called a "Butterfly Effect" or perhaps "Ripples in the Pond Effect", and that is what was proving beneficial for me was also beneficial for those around me. That did give me even more motivation and broadened my intent. Kind of like the expanding outward circle practiced in Loving-Kindness meditation, only passive and not active. That is it wasn't purposefully cultivating qualities of love, kindness and compassion but these qualities eventually did begin to more often manifest. I take the same view with suffering and that it's not just my alleviation of suffering that's at issue.
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Very good.
I think what some people mistake about Buddhists is that they expect them to always be passive. Instead, I think that Buddhists need to understand when and under what circumstances the best path may not be passivity. For example, I can be rather forceful in stating my opinions on this forum, but I am not so much like that in "real life".
Last edited by phetaroi; 06-13-2023 at 02:44 PM..
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