Brilliant quote (Creator, tradition, Buddhism, beliefs, homosexuality)

[c0da]

See below:
"Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it."

People hear Buddha saying this. According to his own words, they shouldn't have believed him, unless there's some other reason to believe. What reason?

"Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many."

Then his words were spoken by someone. But, according to the words, people shouldn't have believed the words, unless there's some other reason to believe. What exactly reason?

"Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books."

Then his words were written down by someone into some book, so that now you be able to quote it. According to the words, readers shouldn't have believed the words, unless there's some other reason to believe. What reason?

"Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders."

Buddha was trying to teach people, saying this. According to the words, people shouldn't have believed the words, unless there's some other reason to believe. Again, what reason?

"Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations."

Buddhism has become tradition long time ago. So to believe Buddha's word, there should be some other reason. Which exactly?

"But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it.”

Everything finally boils down to it - analyze and observe. Well, I don't see any problems with it, good words... but did Buddha himself do that? Which standards to use?
Common sense of a child abuser differs lot from mine or from yours, doesn't it?

What he teached was that people and gods alike were subject to sansara, and the only way to escape this vicious circle was to cease existing... For this, one should be righteous and not blemish one's karma with wrongful deeds. Okay, but how in the world ceasing to exist could produce good or benefit anyone? What's good, after all?

To sum up:
The Buddha gives us some reasons not to believe, and one reason to believe. And the only reason to believe he gives is so vague that it can be used by anyone to support just any views you can imagine... his words are to volatile to rely on them, friend - that's all I'm trying to say.

You are seperating this quote and making it out as if they are all seperate quotes, I used analysis and observational skills and came to the conclusion that Buddhism was for me, so how is this contradictory? The Buddha said don't follow a faith for the wrong reasons, follow it because you agree with it, which is what I am doing. How is this contradictory? There are certain aspects of Buddhism I don't accept, the Boddhisattva doctrine being an example, because my analysis and observations have led me to the conclusion that I don't accept it. This is an example of the above quote in action, I am believing something, not because it is written in a book, but because I agree with it.

unless there's some other reason to believe. What reason?

The reason to believe is, I have analysed the Buddha's teachings and I agree with them, I think they are true because of my own analysises of the Buddhist texts. Your question would be like me asking you what reason do you have to believe that god has a son called Jesus.

Unfortunately, we must agree to disagree because I feel your post makes no sense.

[Mykola]

Originally Posted by c0da2006

...I used analysis and observational skills and came to the conclusion that Buddhism was for me, so how is this contradictory?

Was for you? In what sense, friend?

Originally Posted by c0da2006

The Buddha said don't follow a faith for the wrong reasons, follow it because you agree with it, which is what I am doing.

What d'you mean by agreeing the faith?
God is Supreme, Ultimate Reality, and He doesn't require us to agree or disagree with Him. We aren't just influential enough...

"Take it if you like it" - that's not a good advice when we talk on our beliefs.

Originally Posted by c0da2006

How is this contradictory? There are certain aspects of Buddhism I don't accept, the Boddhisattva doctrine being an example, because my analysis and observations have led me to the conclusion that I don't accept it.

You are selective... Fine, that's very wise of you... but not in the case of issues of life and death, and this is the one!

How is Buddhism contradictory?
Give me some points you and Buddhism agree on, and I'll show you how.

Originally Posted by c0da2006

This is an example of the above quote in action, I am believing something, not because it is written in a book, but because I agree with it.

"I agree" again... Well, some people agree to believe in UFO waiting them to take them to paradise. "We need to commit suicide to get to the flying plate? Okay, here we are! We agree! "

Originally Posted by c0da2006

The reason to believe is, I have analysed the Buddha's teachings and I agree with them,

...except the doctrine of Boddhisattva, yeah?

Originally Posted by c0da2006

I think they are true because of my own analysises of the Buddhist texts.

Because you have analysed them and agreed with them?

Originally Posted by c0da2006

Your question would be like me asking you what reason do you have to believe that god has a son called Jesus.

We can discuss it in separate thread.

Originally Posted by c0da2006

Unfortunately, we must agree to disagree because I feel your post makes no sense.

Happily and hopefully, it is not the end of the discussion

[c0da]

Was for you? In what sense, friend?

Well, I think most of the Buddha's teaching are the truth, I think his philosophies described the nature of life, the nature of the mind, the nature of liberation from suffering etc. to be likely.

God is Supreme, Ultimate Reality, and He doesn't require us to agree or disagree with Him. We aren't just influential enough

But surely you are stating the above information about god because you sincerley think there is a god who created the universe and because this idea makes sense to you, and not just because somebody told you this is what is true.

How is Buddhism contradictory?
Give me some points you and Buddhism agree on, and I'll show you how.

This would be another debate, but please open up a new thread if you wish to aruge whether or not the Buddha's teachings are contradictory.

"I agree" again... Well, some people agree to believe in UFO waiting them to take them to paradise. "We need to commit suicide to get to the flying plate? Okay, here we are! We agree! "

Well good for them, if they actually think that and they have put thought and analysis into coming to that decision, who are you to say that what they believe is any less valid than what you think, because at the end of the day, you can prove the existance of god no more than somebody trying to prove that there is an alien coming to take them to paradise.

...except the doctrine of Boddhisattva, yeah?

Well, that specific idea is one developed years after the Buddha's death by some other Buddhists.

Because you have analysed them and agreed with them?

Yes

Happily and hopefully, it is not the end of the discussion

Indeed!