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I was considering an edit: for atheists, does Buddhism enable a Godless spirituality?I think that newly coming to understand Buddha or Buddhism requires you to abandon your conception of God.
Why? How so?I think that newly coming to understand Buddha or Buddhism requires you to abandon your conception of God.
Because Buddha consciousness is no-self.Why? How so?
Technically correct Willamena, but I interpret it to be such an alien perspective of "self" that it may as well BE "no self". My current perspective is light years away from the "normal" sense of self with the fixation on self as ego that people cannot really imagine it without being here too. Fortunately however, "self" continues and the concept of non-self is somewhat misleading to folks who take that definition literally.Because Buddha consciousness is no-self.
Buddha consciousness is a realisation of impermanence. Impermanence does not equal no-self as annihalation of self, it is understanding impermanence of self (or structures that make up self).Because Buddha consciousness is no-self.
What God-concepts are not anthropomorphic? To rephrase that question, what did Buddhism teach you about God-concepts? Where is the separation? Is it a real/logical separation?It certainly required me to give up on anthropomorphic God-concepts.
But not God-concepts altogether.
The tone of your post suggests does not require abandonnment of religious notions of God. Do you agree?Interesting Booko. Something similar here.
I came across Buddhism after an anthropocentric God-concept I had bottomed out into meaninglessness. Because of that it wasn't something that came up, was given up or taken up. Years later when I had experiences that left me with the impression there was a god-like being that had tried to communicate with me God-concepts became more of an issue.
I was concerned that the experience might represent some deep attachment to a Goddess deity figure since I'd read material relating to Zen that mentioned such things as potential hindrances to further awakening. It bothered me but in the end I relaxed because it occurred to me that if I was worrying about attachment to a Goddess the chances were it would also lead to worrying about attachment to Zen. Better just to stop. "Let it come, let it be, let it go" sorta thing.
Yes. Not required. My post was personal but I think it roughly reflects the attitude of the kind of Buddhists I've mixed with the most. God just isn't an issue. On the other hand it would be surprising if God-concepts weren't challenged or changed in the natural course of Buddhist practice.The tone of your post suggests does not require abandonnment of religious notions of God. Do you agree?
Ozzie -For those of you who might have abandonned God and gone searching and experienced Buddhism or those of you who have had flirtations with Buddhism without abandonning your faith, this question might have significance.
Do they?
I just meant that. "No-self" does not equal "annihilation of self," just an understanding of impermanence, of the construct. The self that was permanent becomes (is now understood as) image. God, too, is an impermanent construct, which necessitates abandoning the idea of (or in my case, hope of) permanance in regard to God. All gods become the Image of God.Buddha consciousness is a realisation of impermanence. Impermanence does not equal no-self as annihalation of self, it is understanding impermanence of self (or structures that make up self).
Did you mean something else by "no-self"?
The question of God just isnt relevent in buddhism is my understanding. A buddist way of life by default would please God is my reasoning so is not an issue i dont think.The hindus have millions of God in the light of this the buddha concluded it didnt really matter.What really matters locally like on this planet is, if your having a good day or a bad day an after that what kind of day your neighbour having is all that really matters.For those of you who might have abandonned God and gone searching and experienced Buddhism or those of you who have had flirtations with Buddhism without abandonning your faith, this question might have significance.
Do they?
Yes and No. It is a school thing partly. Which school of Buddhist thought do you adhere to. People thought of Buddha as the supreme realized one. So in a way heFor those of you who might have abandonned God and gone searching and experienced Buddhism or those of you who have had flirtations with Buddhism without abandonning your faith, this question might have significance.
Do they?